Other States - Orissa   

CPI (M) seeks more funds for rail projects

BERHAMPUR: The Orissa unit of the CPI (M) will observe March 19 as Railway Demands Day throughout the State seeking allocation of more funds for the ongoing projects. The party has also asked the railways to introduce metro rail service between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

The party State committee has already submitted a memorandum to the Union Railway Minister regarding the genuine demands of the State for the development of railways in the area. Party’s State secretariat member Ali Kishore Patnaik said the party demanded an allocation of Rs. 1,975 crores in the Railway Budget for Orissa.

The CPI(M) leaders want hike in investments on infrastructure of the railways.

As per the national average of ratio between railway track length and total area, much needs to be done in Orissa. The State has 2,340 km of railway track within it and the ratio of track length per thousand square km is 15.03 km in Orissa while the national average is around 19 km.

Mr. Patnaik said allocation of small amounts for ongoing projects was delaying them and it was also escalating the cost of the projects.

So, the party has handed over detailed report for investment of Rs. 1,975 crores by the railways in Orissa through this budget for six sanctioned new track projects, gauge conversion projects, 17 ongoing track doubling projects and completion of track electrification work in some sectors.

They also asked the railways to sanction nine new railway track laying projects in the State. They have demanded survey work for another eight railway tracks in areas of the State where there was no footprint of railways as well as for metro rail service between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

To increase pressure on the railways and to create mass awareness regarding these genuine demands for the development of railway infrastructure in Orissa, the CPI(M) cadres will hold demonstrations throughout the State on March 19.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Two hardcore naxals held
Fishermen in clutches of moneylenders
CPI (M) seeks more funds for rail projects
Seven hurt in group clash
It’s a friendship with a difference
‘Earth-like planets exist in universe’
Matriculation exams from March 26
Breakthrough in rape case
Feel poverty in KBK region, Naveen tells Rahul
On the warpath

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu