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I would like to focus upon certain other things. One of them is not giving proper priority for agricultural areas and backward areas. There was a well-focused speech by the hon. Minister when he presented the last Budget that the backward areas will be covered by a new project which will be for five years. But the focus is now given only to the ports and other centres and not to the rural areas. The backward areas should get more attention because the agricultural produce, the produce of small-scale industries and medium industries are transported by rail. Many such people who are having their own units in the rural areas and in the most backward areas, just like in my constituency in Sivaganga, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram areas could not get proper attention. But we are now allowing them to have only metre gauge line. I find that getting of money from the open market is also for conversion of the existing lines to broad gauge. Why can this not be spent for giving new lines to backward areas?

72. Need to increase allocation of funds for Tarakeswar-Bishnupur New railway line.

73. Need to increase allocation of funds for Rampurhat-Mandar Hill New railway line.

74. Need increase allocation of funds for Howrah-Amta BG New railway line.

75. Need to increase allocation of funds for Tamluk-Digha New railway line.

76. Need to increase allocation of funds for Gauge Conversion of Bankura Damodar Railway.

77. Need to increase allocation of funds for doubling of Kalinarayanpur-

96. Need for electrification of lines from Siliguri-NJP-Alipurduar, Krishnanagar-Lalgola, Andal-Sainthia and Kalna-Farrakha.

97. Need to modernize the double railway line via Mecheda to Haldia.

98. Need to extend the Bankura Damodar rail line to Raniganj via Mehia-

Durlavpur and also conversion of the line to broad gauge.

99. Need to allocate sufficient funds and to expedite work for timely completion of New Mainaguri-Jogighopa railway line.

100. Need to complete the work of Howrah-Amta and Chapadangha-

It is very much depressing that there are two narrow gauge lines whose gauge conversion has not been done. The first is the Naupada –Gunpur line and the other is the Rupsa-Bangriposi line. They were constructed during the time of the then Maharajas. Thousands of kilometres of gauge conversion has been effected during the last three Plan periods but these two lines have not been taken up. The first line is of 89 kilometres and runs through the States of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The second line is hundred per cent in Orissa and is of 90 kilometres. If this line is completed, the distance would be lessened to Tata if it could connect Gorumahisani. It would lessen the distance to the tribal areas and it would be socially beneficial to the tribal people. For the Naupada-Gunpur line, the latest estimated cost is Rs. 91 crore but only Rs.5 crore have been provided. So, I would like to know from the hon. Minister in how many years it would be completed. Similarly, for the Rupsa-Bangriposi line also, the estimated cost is Rs. 78 crore and no land acquisition is necessary. It could be completed within two to three years provided money is earmarked for its construction. It would give very good returns but it has not been taken up.