Odishatv Bureau
Berhampur: Rajya Sabha MP Renubala Pradhan has urged the Ministry of Railways to expedite construction of the proposed rail wagon factory at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district and make budgetary provision for Gopalpur-Rayagada new railway line in its 2013-14 budget.

The Planning Commission has accorded "in principle" approval of the ministrys proposal for the 258-km long new railway line of Gopalpur-Rayagada in June 2012. The estimated cost of the newrailwayline is about Rs 1392.32 crore, she said.

The railway line assumed significance as number of industries is coming up in Rayagada,while a mega port is being constructed at Gopalpurand a satellite port of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is proposed at Bahuda near Gopalpur.

Moreover, Gopalpur is a famous tourist town.

The railway line will also go through Maoist infested areas of the southern Odisha like Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Rayagada districts, she said in the memorandum to the railway minister.

Similarly the Railway Minister had announced for the railway wagon factory at Sitalapalli in the Railway Budget in 2011-12. In the last budget around Rs one crore was allotted for it. The state government has also identified around 100 acres of land at Sitalapalli, about 20-km from here.

The state government was ready to extend all help for grounding the factory and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reminded the Centre several times for early implementation of the project. However, there was no progress in the project so far, she said in the letter.

 

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