New Delhi: As many as 35 railway line projects total length 4,257 km costing Rs 52,189 crore have been taken up in Odisha, of which, 1184 km length has been commissioned with an expenditure of Rs 20,141 crore upto March, 2023.
This was informed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Lok Sabha on Wednesday while replying to a question of BJP MP Basanta Panda.
In a written statement, Shri Vaishnaw said 12 new lines, 1 gauge conversion and 22 doubling, which are in the planning/approval/construction stage, are falling fully/partly in Odisha. Out of which, 1184 km length has been commissioned with an expenditure of Rs 20,141 crore, he said.
Out of these, nine projects (3 new lines & 6 doubling works) of a total length of 99 km have been sanctioned in the last four years (2019- 20 to 2022-23) and current year 2023-24.
As on April 1, 2023, 64 survey works (26 new lines & 38 doubling) having a total length 3414 km have been taken up in the State. Demands of railway projects are raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public representatives and Railways’ own requirements. They are taken up on the basis of remunerative ness, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, socio-economic considerations etc., he said.
The Union Minister said the train services, serving Kalahandi and Naupada districts which were discontinued during Covid-19, have now been resumed. Further, introduction of train services over Indian Railways is an ongoing process subject to operational feasibility, commercial viability and availability of resources, etc.
On the proposed wagon factory in Kalahandi district, Shri Vaishnaw said the work of setting up of electric loco periodical overhauling workshop at Kalahandi was sanctioned in 2017-18 under Plan Head-42. Presently, the land acquisition from the State government is under process for the project.
Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation and commensurate commissioning of Projects. Average annual budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in State, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to Rs 4,126 crore per year, which is 392% more than the average annual budget allocation of Rs 838 crore per year during 2009-14, he pointed out.
For FY 2023-24, highest ever budget outlay of Rs 10,012 crore has been provided for these works, which is 1095% more than average annual budget allocation of 2009-14. (Rs 838 crore/year)
During 2014-23, he said, 1,583 km sections (384 km new line and 1,199 km doubling) falling fully/partly in the State have been commissioned at an average rate 175.89 km per year, which is 229% more than commissioning during 2009-14 (53.4 km/year).
