Bhubaneswar: The state government Wednesday said it would ensure rail connectivity to the remaining six districts of the state by 2023.
Commerce and Transport Minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu said this while highlighting the achievements of his department on the last day of government’s media blitzkrieg that had been launched to mark the completion of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government’s fourth year in its fourth term.
Sahu said of the seven districts that were lacking rail connectivity, Nayagarh was provided connectivity in 2017-18, while work for development of rail infrastructure in Kendrapara is under way and expected to be completed by June 2019.
He further said the state government has set a deadline for rail connectivity to Deogarh district by 2020, Boudh by 2021, Nabarangpur by 2022 and Malkangiri by 2023.
The minister added that the state government had also proposed the railway ministry for construction of a new line from Sambalpur to Berhampur via Kandhamal to ensure rail link to the district. The project is under consideration for sanction, he said.
On the other hand, the minister said steps have also been taken to develop 11 more ports to make Odisha commercially more viable. The state government has identified 13 potential sites for development of non-major ports of which Dhamara and Gopalpur have already been made functional.
“The Gopalpur port though commissioned in 2013 was inoperative after the damage caused by cyclonic storm ‘Phailin’ in 2014. The recommissioning and expansion work have been taken up with an investment of `1,400 crore and will be completed by June 2019,” he said.
He further said instruction has already been given for work on Subarnarekha port after getting nod from the Union defence ministry. The state government has also acquired 692.68 acre land for the project and has handed over it to Subarnarekha Port Private limited in January 2018.
Sahu said that the work on the Astaranga Port hasn’t commenced due to legal hurdles, while work order has been issued to JSW for Jatadhari port.
Government is waiting for other private players for developing the remaining ports, he said.
On development of inland transport under Sagarmala project, Sahu said the response of Centre to state in this regard has remained unsatisfactory so far.
The minister also spoke about government’s flagship programme ‘Biju Gaon Gadi Yojana’ and said under the scheme, over 6,689 of 6,802 gram panchayats have been provided with public transport facilities with over 500 buses. Sahu said government bus stands will be developed in 10 district headquarters and work has already commenced in five of them including Koraput, Angul and Bolangir.
250 bridges soon in rural areas
Bhubaneswar: The state government Wednesday said it would take up construction of 250 more bridges in rural areas this fiscal. “We also aim to complete 150 bridges with `650 crore,” Rural Development Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha informed reporters during a media-interaction programme here. The minister said of the 922 villages without road connectivity, 320 will be taken up under Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY) in this fiscal, while projects for the remaining will be initiated under different schemes at the earliest.