Viswas Dass
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 19: Five key railway projects are likely to be completed this year, especially Delang-Puri doubling project for which emphasis has been laid by East Coast Railway (ECoR) and state government in view of the forthcoming Nabakalebar festival.
However, several railway projects are still hanging fire because of paucity of funds. The state is expecting funds from the railway budget 2015-16 which would be presented next week. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik December 9, 2014 urged the Centre to allocate `3,200 crore for development of railway infrastructure in Orissa.
The Delang-Puri doubling (28.7 km) project, Jharsuguda-Rengali (25.6 km), Sambalpur-Talcher (174.11 km) and Vizianagaram-Kottavalasa 3rd line (34.7 km) projects are expected to be completed by 2015-end.
The ECoR has set a deadline of May 31, 2015 to commission the Delang-Puri section (28.7 km) to facilitate smooth Nabakalebar festival in which five million devotees are expected to throng Puri. The work was sanctioned in 2010-11. The doubling work has been divided into two parts — Delang-Sakhigopal (12.4 km) and Sakhigopal-Puri (16.3 km). The 12.4 km-long Delang-Sakhigopal route was commissioned February 1 for passenger traffic. The Sakhigopal-Puri work is being carried out on a war-footing. ECoR sources said laxity would not be tolerated as the state and the Union ministry is directly involved in the Delang-Puri doubling project.
Another key doubling project— Jharsuguda-Rengali (25.6 km) is expected to be completed by March-end for which `201 crore was sanctioned by the ministry. The 6.1 km-Brundamal-Jharsuguda Road stretch was made operational January 14, 2013 while Rengali-Lapanga-Brundamal (14.8 km) stretch was commissioned two months later. However, the 2010-11 sanctioned project— Sambalpur-Talcher (174.11 km) doubling work is progressing at a snail’s pace. The Boinda-Handapa (7.5 km) route would be doubled by March 31. The work comprises Talcher-Bamur (85 km) and Sambalpur-Bamur (90 km) which may take a few more years.
Meanwhile, projects carried out by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) include Cuttack-Barang doubling (14.27 km) work 91 per cent of which was completed. At least 87 per cent of Khurda-Barang third line (34.94 km) work was completed while ECoR has claimed that 86 per cent of Rajathgarh-Barang doubling (27.78 km) work was accomplished. Jhakhapura-Haridaspur third line (25 km) project is under way.
Meanwhile, Khurda Road-Bolangir new broad gauge line (290 km), Talcher-Bimlagarh line (154 km), Kirandul-Jagdalpur doubling (150 km) and Bhadrak-Nergundi third line (80 km) project are some of the projects which are lagging behind. Only 15 per cent of Angul-Sukinda Road line (98.76 km) work has been completed till January.
