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Union Minister flags off Garib Rath

BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu on Friday said the Centre would pay more attention on development of railway infrastructure to facilitate industrial development. Mr. Velu was speaking at the flagging off ceremony of the Bhubaneswar-Ranchi Garib Rath Express from the Bhubaneswar Railway Station.

Dismissing criticism by Naveen Patnaik government that the UPA government was ignoring the State, the Union Minister said the criticism was unjustified. “Last year the centre had allocated Rs. 606 crores towards railway development in Orissa. Now the annual grant has been enhanced to Rs. 975 crores, which constitutes a growth of 61 per cent,” Mr. Velu said.

He, however, admitted that Orissa needed more infrastructure support to add value to its rich mineral resources. The Union Minister said his Ministry had sanctioned Rs. 120 crores for construction of the second railway bridge on the Mahanadi River and it was completed in a record 36 months.

“Common men can now be able to travel and enjoy the facilities of air-conditioned class by paying 30 per cent less fare from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela and Bhubaneswar to Ranchi in comparison to other trains,” Mr. Velu said.

Earlier, State Minister for Rural Development Biswa Bhushan Harichandan urged Mr. Velu to keep Orissa in the priority list in view that the State was passing through an unprecedented industrialisation.

He also underlined the need for early completion flyover-bridges in and around Bhubaneswar and Cuttack cities. BJD Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra and others were present on the occasion.

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