Jajpur: Even as former Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani wanted the completion of Haridashpur-Paradip route by March 31 this year, the project is unlikely to meet the deadline, a report said.
In a letter to the state chief secretary, Lohani has laid stress on the rail route work. He had said that the Haridashpur-Paradip rail route project implemented by the Rail Vikash Nigam Ltd (RVNL) is a prestigious project and as per the decision of the last review meeting the issues of availability of murram and land acquisition should be resolved and completed within the designated period.
The project, envisaged in 1997, is moving at a snail’s pace and yet to get completed which has sparked resentment among the people.
The matter came to the fore after Special Secretary Manoj Kumar Mishra of state commerce and transport department had asked the Collectors of Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur Wednesday to lay more stress on the progress of the rail route works.
However, it is apprehended that the project might not get over within March 31 due to delay in land acquisition, scarcity of raw materials and faulty construction. Moreover, work on the rail project has slowed down as the head of a consultancy firm involved in the construction has been embroiled in a legal case.
Sources said work on the 82-km Haridashpur-Paradip rail route has been completed till 42 km. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has also intervened in the matter and directed the officials concerned to complete the project from 0-42km by December 2018 and 42-82 km by March 2019.
Meanwhile, land acquisition for the project has been completed but the consultancy firm’s whimsical way of working has slowed down the project’s progress. As a result, the state government and Centre might not be able to inaugurate the rail route before the general elections.
Notably, land was first acquired for the project in 2007 and a consultancy firm Adhikari and Brothers got the contract to execute the project. However, it pulled out from the construction work in the middle. The authorities again floated tender for the project in 2013 and asked the new firm to complete the work by June 2016.
A firm TTIPL was handed over the contract for 42 km, SSIL and Woodhill for 26.3 km and ARSS for 13 km.
Sources said 403.77 acres from 29 villages in Jajpur district, 882.174 acres in 47 villages in Kendrapara district and 181.240 acre in 10 villages in Jagatsinghpur district were acquired for the project. However, it is alleged, many of the land owners are yet to get their compensation.
When contacted, Chief General Manager Srinivas Sahu of RVNL said every effort is being made to complete the project by March end but the cooperation and assistance of the district administration is highly essential.
PNN
