The state government is rumored to have prepared proposals worth roughly Rs 8,400 crore for improving the railway infrastructure in Odisha, which will be sent to the Centre for making provisions in the 2023–24 budget, amid the political scuffle over new railway lines and divisions ahead of the Padampur bypoll. Existing projects, approved new lines, modernised stations, new trains introduced, existing trains extended, better passenger facilities at stations, and on-board services are all included in the proposals.
The state government has prepared a proposal asking for the inclusion of Rs 100 crore in the railway budget for the 142 km Nuapada Road- Bargarh Road via Padampur line. The proposal has stoked political tension in the byelection-bound Padampur as the Centre and state trade barbs over the project’s delay in completion.
With a demand of Rs 1,200 crore, the eagerly anticipated 289 km Khurda Road-Balangir broad gauge rail link project has taken the lead, followed by Rs 800 for the 154 km Talcher-Bimlagarh project. Rs 300 crore will be spent on the 79-kilometer Theruvalli extension of the Nuapada-Gunupur new broad gauge rail link, Rs 300 crore on the 130-kilometer Jeypore-Malkangiri new line, Rs 200 crore on the 250-kilometer Gopalpur-Rairakhol new line, and Rs 150 crore on the 38-kilometer Nabarangpur-Jeypore new line.
According to a representative, Odisha provides Indian Railways with annual freight revenue of about Rs 20,000 crore. However, the state’s rail density, at 18, is significantly lower than both the national average of 21 and that of the neighbouring states of West Bengal (48), as well as Jharkhand.
“The state government has already partnered with Indian Railways to fill the viability gap and formed joint ventures/special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to expedite augmentation of rail infrastructure by directly financing construction besides offering free land. The proposals will be sent to the ministry after approval of the government,” he said.
Around 10.5% more projects worth Rs 8,400 crore are being proposed than the state requested for rail infrastructure last year. The government had demanded that the Union budget for 2022–2023 include at least Rs 7,600 crore.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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