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            Notwithstanding with the realities and un mindful of long term interests of this vital infrastructure in sustaining the national’s economic and industrial growth.  The successive railway minister’s have their own railway agenda.

            Budget allocations were un realistic causing the back log of projects like gauge conversion, new lines, doubling and safety measures.

            There is whooping Rs. 30,000 crores require for only gauge conversion which might take 10 to 20 years to complete depending up on the availability of financial resources.

Coast Railways should be expeditiously completed. At present since Sundargarh district has also got tremendous potential for Iron Ore and other mineral based industries, Ministry of Railways may consider creation of new division with Headquarter either at Rourkela or at-Jharsuguda with Jurisdiction of Jharsuguda-Himgir, Jharsuguda-Barsuan/Kiriburu and Rourkela-Nuagaon sections The Govt. of Orissa had presented a memorandum to the Ministry of Railways for allotment of more funds towards ongoing projects like B.G., Rail Links, Gauge Conversion, Doubling and Electrification etc during 2005-06, but this is not reflected in the Supplemented Budget also. The Ministry should complete the sanctioned projects amounting to Rs. 4825.99 crore within next 5 years and make the State of Orissa profit centre for the Ministry of Railways. I had requested the Railway Minister through you in my Railway Budget Speech to allot funds for 2005-06 in this manner.

However, regrettably I have to say through you Speaker Sir, that the same has not been given adequate attention and the aspirations of the people of Orissa has been totally ignored.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I would also like to elaborate some of the major projects in Orissa, which deserve immediate attention of the Railways:

Doubling of existing Railway Lines.
 
1 (a)     Doubling of Khurda Road-Puri railway line in view of importance of Puri from  international Tourism point.

           Khurda road-Puri railway track is of more than 100 years old and is the only railway line connecting Shri Jagannath Dham. The track is already 100% saturated. Though phase I work of the track had begun 4 years back, yet no satisfactory progress has been made so far and there is no sanction for phase II Work. In the Railway Budget-2005-06 only Rs.10/- crore has been earmarked, which is inadequate for completion of this project. Considering Puri as a national and international tourist centre  the doubling work may be undertaken expeditiously.   I would request you the Hon’ble Minister to allot the requisite funds in the supplementary Budget for completion of Phase-I work and  make provision of sanction for expediting the Phase-II work.    

            It is also requested that doubling of Nirgundi – Cuttack,-Ragunathpur, Rahama – Paradeep Rail Line may be completed at the earliest. Titilagarh – Lanjigarh Road, Raj Athagarh – Nirgundi, Raghunathpur – Gorakhnath, Rahama – Raj Athagarh – Barang, 2nd Bridge on Birupa & Mahandi, Cuttack – Barang, Khurda – Barang 3rd Line, Sambalpur – Rengali, Jharsuguda Byepass Railway lines which had in progress may be expedited for early completion. The allocation of 0.01 crore each to in Budget-2005-06 for doubling of Raghunathpur-Gorakhpur- Rahama, Rajaathagarh-Nirgundi and Rahama-Paradeep Lines is like peanut.  Doubling of Nirgundi-Cuttack-Raghunathpur require Rs.15/- crore whereas in the Budget only Rs.8.97/- crore had been allotted. Mr. Speaker Sir, for the doubling of Titilagarh – Lanjigarh Road a demand of Rs.250/- crore was made by the Govt. of Orissa, whereas only Rs.10/- crore had been allotted.  Mr. Speaker   Sir, for doubling of Rahama-Rajaathagarh-Baranga Line, second Bridge on Birupa and Mahanadi, Cuttack-Baranga Line and Khurda-Baranga third line in the Budget-2005-06  Rs.30.00/- crore, Rs.28.60/- crore, Rs.30/- crores and  Rs. 30/- crores respectively had been allotted, which was entrusted to Rail Vikash Nigam Ltd. (RVNL). The past experience shows RVNL didn’t spend more than 5% of the total allotment and the same was an eye wash on the part of Railway so far as allotment for the doubling of these projects in Orissa is concerned. Allocation of Rs.10.70/- crore for doubling of Sambalpur-Rengali Line was totally inadequate. But inspite of our  request there is no provision for these projects in the Supplementary Budget too.