Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 16: Railway safety (CRS) Commissioner of eastern region Sudershan Nayak Friday inspected Delang-Sakhigopal section doubling work which would facilitate operations of more trains during Nabakalebar festival.
The doubling project will help introduction of several pairs of trains by east coast railway (ECoR) for Nabakalebar festival to ferry at least five million passengers who are expected to visit Puri.
The inspection was aimed at assessing the performance of the newly built double track laid between Delang and Sakhigopal. Notably, the doubling project (28.70 km) was sanctioned by the ministry of railways in 2010-11 and divided into two sections — Delang-Sakhigopal (13.30km) and Sakhigopal-Puri (15.40km).
The 13.30 km-long doubling work which was completed was inspected. But only 80 per cent of work of the Sakhigopal-Puri line was completed.
The first train is likely to be introduced on Delang-Sakhigopal section by first week of February while the Sakhigopal-Puri section is slated to be completed by March-end.
The ministry had sanctioned `165.16 crore for the doubling project.
Nayak will submit his report to the railway board to take a final call on the matter.
The project, undertaken by ECoR construction wing was monitored by chief engineer to ensure its speedy completion.
“ECoR general manager Rajiv Vishnoi has visited the site several times to ensured coordination between civil engineering, signal and telecom departments. The railways have adequate outlay in the current budget to complete the project. We have adequate funds,” ECoR chief public relations officer JP Mishra said.
As the mega festival is around, the railways is mulling to strengthen passenger amenities at Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, Berhampur and Rourkela.
The ECoR GM has directed his officials to expedite works like upgradation of Puri, Khurda Road, Malatipatpur railway stations, road over bridges, limited height subways and Khurda Road station bypass for smooth operations during Nabakalebar.
The state government has been raising the issue of Centre’s step-motherly treatment towards Orissa although the state contributes `14,000 crore to the Indian Railways annually and gets an allocation of `1,400 crore against the requirement of `3,100 crore.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has recently demanded an allocation of `3,200 crore in the next financial year.
