Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday urged Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu to make provision in the upcoming budget for a new railway line between Gunupur and Theruvali in Rayagada.
The Indian Railways has been conducting surveys to connect Gunupur with Theruvali/Rayagada for a shorter alternative route. The survey reveals that the distance of this new line from Gunupur to Theruvali would be 76 km and the rate of return has jumped from 9.6 per cent to 18.81 per cent, Patnaik said in his letter to Prabhu.
He also soughed re-commissioning of railway stations at Paralakhemundi and Kashinagar in Gajapati district.
The Naupada-Gunupur railway line was earlier a narrow gauge line which was constructed by the then Maharaja of Paralakhemundi in 1900. This line runs over 90 km – 54 km in Orissa and 36 km in Andhra Pradesh.
“This narrow gauge (NG) line got approval for conversion into broad gauge (BG) in 1993-94. Unfortunately, while sanctioning the BG project, the railways adopted a ‘one train only’ system by abolishing all intermediate stations in the section, which were there prior to the gauge conversion,” Patnaik said.
Now this section, which became operational in 2007-08, has only two stations at both ends – Naupada (Andhra Pradesh) and Gunupur (Orissa).
“This has severely curtailed the amenities for passengers who were earlier served by stations at Paralakhemundi and Kashinagar. With closure of existing crossing stations, the capacity has come down to only three trains running over this long stretch with no scope for halts anywhere between Naupada and Gunupur,” he pointed out.
The railway line has gained significance because of the increased business activities, income and prosperity in the two districts.
Patnaik requested Prabhu for re-commissioning of the crossing stations which were operational before BG conversion, with new station buildings having adequate amenities at the district headquarters of Paralakhemundi, Kashinagar and terminal station Gunupur.
A few days back, Patnaik had written to Prabhu seeking `5,870 crore for development of railway sector in the state in the forthcoming budget. PNN