Railways not neglecting Odisha: Union minister

Puri: Asserting that Railways was not neglecting Odisha, Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury today sought its cooperation in infrastructure development and said doubling of Delang-Puri line would be completed before Lord Jagannath Nabakalebar festival in 2015.

"There is no truth in the allegation that Odisha is being neglected by Railways. We need the state government's cooperation for development of rail network," Chowdhury said at a function organised during flagging off of Puri-Ajmer Express from here.

Referring to ongoing projects in Odisha, the minister said the doubling work of the railway line between Delang and Puri would be completed before Nabakalebara festival of Lord Jagannath.

In addition, the railway stations close to the pilgrim town of Puri would be developed and beautified by improving various facilities for passengers, he said.

Quick removal of encroachments from railway land would facilitate speedy development of rail infrastructure for which state government's cooperation is essential, Chowdhury said, adding that there should be joint effort by the Centre and the state government in this regard.

The Minister said Railways was passing through a financial crisis and rail infrastructure needed to be developed as per the needs of passengers.

Speaking at the function, state's Tourism and Culture minister Maheswar Mohanty and local MP Pinaki Mishra accused Railways of neglecting Odisha despite earning good revenue from the state.

Puri-Ajmer Express, a bi-weekly train to run via Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Titlagarh, Raipur, Nagpur, Bhushawal, Surat and Abu Road, would start its regular run from Puri from December 30 and January 3 from Ajmer, sources said.

The 18421 Puri-Ajmer bi-weekly Express will leave Puri at 2125 hrs every Monday and Thursday and arrive at Ajmer at 2100 hrs on every Wednesday and Saturdays.

In the return direction, 18422 Ajmer-Puri bi-weekly Express will leave Ajmer at 1600 hrs every Friday and Tuesday and will arrive at Puri at 1845 hrs on every Sunday and Thursdays, they said.

In today's inaugural run, the train which left Puri this evening will arrive at Ajmer on December 24 and in return direction, this train will leave Ajmer on December 25 and arrive at Puri on December 27.