CCIL should invest 10% in Haridaspur-Paradip project: Kendrapara MP

Bhubaneswar: BJD MP from Kendrapara, Baijayant Panda, has urged Railway minister Suresh Prabhu to direct Container Corporation of India Limited (CCIL) to invest 10% of its share in the Haridaspur-Paradip railway project.

In his letter to Prabhu on June 8, Panda mentioned that Haridaspur-Paradip railway project is a joint initiative and spans across the Haridaspur-Paradip corridor. On account of delay in implementation of Posco project, the steel major has already withdrawn from the venture, he highlighted.
Citing that the project is vital for Kendrapara district, Panda noted that it will ease traffic on the Chandikhol-Paradip Expressway and as the first rail line in the district it will connect Kendrapara with the rest of the country.

Notably, the Haridaspur-Paradip railway project was commissioned in 1995 but work was not started due to lack of political will. After Panda was elected to the parliament in 2009, he has been keen in ensuring that the project is expedited by constantly being in touch with the Central as well as the State governments.

In October last year, Panda met Union Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar and discussed about immediate environmental approval to the Haridaspur-Paradip rail project. The project then received the first phase environmental clearance.