State to seek Rs 3,050 crore in rail budget

Bhubaneswar: Alleging denial of its 'genuine rights' in subsequent railway budgets, a panel of the Odisha Assembly has prepared a memorandum to demand Rs 3,050 crore for developing rail infrastructure in the state in 2013-14.

"A committee of the Assembly led by Speaker P K Amat will submit the memorandum in this regard to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal next month. The House panel has prepared a list of projects which required urgent attention," said state Commerce and Transport minister Subrat Tarai.

The memorandum will also demand additional five Duronto Express trains, three super fast, 10 express, three inter-city trains, two passenger trains and eight DMU trains.

"This apart, we will also demand establishment of a multi-model logistic park at Kalinga Nagar and filling of all technical posts in East Coast Zone in order to expedite activities," Tarai said.

The committee will also request the Railway ministry to merge certain portions of Odisha in the East Coast Zone.

"There are areas in Odisha which still remain under South Eastern Railway Zone and South Central Zone jurisdiction," the minister said.

Of the Rs 3,050 crore sought from Railways for Odisha, Rs 1440 crore would be for construction of new lines, Rs 940 crore for gauge conversion, Rs 210 crore for electrification of projects, Rs 100 crore for traffic facilities and development of goods sheds, Rs 35 crore for establishment of wagon manufacturing unit in Ganjam, sleeper manufacture/wagon factory in Bolangir and MEMU Maintenance facility at Khurda and Rs 275 crore for passenger amenities.