Enough Funds For Development Of Railways In Odisha, Says Railway Minister  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated Rs9,723 crore to Odisha for the development of railway infrastructure in Odisha, which is the highest amount ever received by the State. "There will be no dearth of funds for the development of Railways in the State," said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday. 

Speaking to reporters, particularly from Odisha, Vaishnaw said he, on behalf of 4.5crore people of the State, expressed his gratitude towards the Prime Minister for scripting history by allocating such massive outlay to Odisha. 

“Odisha had been neglected during the period when the UPA government was at the Centre. On an average, the State had been receiving a meager Rs834 crore every year from 2009 to 2014,” said the Railway Minister. 

“The allocations for Odisha in FYs 2019-20 and 2020-21 were Rs4,568 crore and Rs5,296 crore respectively. In FY 2021-22, the budgetary allocation for the State was Rs5,921 crore. Taking note of the progress of the projects, Rs550 crore more was allocated during revised estimate. So, the total allocation made to the State in FY 2021-22 stood at Rs6,471 crore,” informed the Minister. 

“Breaking all prevoous records, this time Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Rs 9,723 crore to Odisha, which is 10 times more than what the State was receiving during the UPA rule,” he added.  

Heaping praise on the Prime Minister, Vaishnaw further informed that there would be no dearth of funds for the development of Railways in the State. 

When asked about the progress of railway wagon factory in Kalahandi, he said 50 percent of the total required land has so far been acquired. “The work will take off only when the State government provides the rest of the required land,” he maintained.