Bhubaneswar: Claiming to be a victim of
negligence in Railway budgets, Orissa government on Tuesday
demanded an allocation of at least Rs 1805 crore towards
railway development in the state in 2010-2011, official
sources said.
Five new coaching terminals, seven 'model' stations
and two multi-functional complexes were also among the demands
made by the state, the sources said.
Memoranda to this effect were today sent to Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway minister Mamata Banerjee,
the sources said.
Though the state had last year demanded Rs 1504 crore,
the Railway budget for 2009-10 allocated only Rs 715 crore of
which only Rs 653.22 crore was released, Commerce and
Transport Minister Sanjeev Sahoo said.
"This time we are hopeful of getting justice", Sahoo
said adding that a delegation would soon visit New Delhi
for presenting the state's demand before the Railway Minister.
While the state government demanded Rs 790 crore for
five sanctioned rail links, it asked Rs 100 crore for
electrification of five other lines.
It also demanded Rs 100 crore for gauge conversion and
extension of two lines. They include conversion of
Rupsa-Bangirposi line and its extension up to Chakulia.
Similarly, it also demanded funds for gauge conversion
of Nuapada-Gunupur line and its extension till Theruvali.
The memoranda sought Rs 760 crore for doubling of 18
lines against the last year's sanction of only Rs 390 crore.
The state required an estimated Rs 6832.36 crore for
completion of all the projects, it said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 21:47