Archive for the 'Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi' Category

With one of its best officers at the helm several hospital and medical college projects are making progress

Angul, Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Balangir, Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Ganjam, HEALTHCARE and HOSPITALS, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Medical, nursing and pharmacy colleges, Odisha govt. action, Rayagada- Therubali, Rourkela- Kansbahal, SAIL, State Bureaucrats (IAS, OAS, etc.), State Ministers, Sundergarh 6 Comments »

Update: SAIL RSP has now agreed to consider upgrading IGH (Ispat general Hospital) to a medical college. All that was needed was the CM asking for it. The Odia papers suggest that he already agreed. If this works out then the 4 public sectors MCL, NTPC, NALCO and SAIL will each be making medical colleges at Talcher, Sundergarh, Koraput and Rourkela respectively.

If the IGH upgradation happens it will be the second medical college in Rourkela. (Note that HiTech medical college is now operational in Rourkela and has taken the first batch of MBBS students.) When the NTPC medical college is made in Sundergarh, the medical college count in that district will then go to 3.

Next Odisha government must push the other companies that heavily use Odisha minerals to contribute at the similar level. The TATAs who have mining in Odisha for more than 100 years should be told to establish medical colleges in Joda-Barbil and Sukinda-Kalinganagar and do much more.


Following are some of the projects that are in progress as collected from various media reports.

  • NALCO has agreed to build a medical college at Koraput. A few days back (I think sometime in June 2012) the state government decided to ask NALCO for this and this was in the media around July 3rd. The NALCO officials met the concerned government officials on July 5th and NALCO immediately agreed to this proposal. In the past the public sectors MCL and NTPC had agreed to establish medical colleges in Talcher and Sundergarh respectively. Odisha now must push SAIL for a medical college in Rourkela.
  • As per this Times of India report: "New Delhi-based OSL Group’s Centre for Joint Disorders will established a 150-seat medical college, 750-bed super-speciality hospital, a dental college and a nursing college in Bhubaneswar. The group has promised to start work within two months…"
  • As per this Times of India report: "The upcoming Sardar Rajas medical college and hospital at Jaring in Kalahandi district, being established by Selvam Education and Charitable Trust of Tamil Nadu, will start admitting students from the next academic year …"
  • As per this Times of India report: "The sDFID of UK has been preparing a report to facilitate a medical college in Balangir. "
  • As per this Times of India report: "land transfer work for the proposed medical college by Sahyog Foundation in Keonjhar will be fast-tracked"
  • As per this Times of India report: "the government would soon examine the proposals of Basantidevi Charitable Trust and Bidyabharti Charitable Trust as well to open a medical college in Rayagada."
  • As per this Times of India report: "The government has also agreed in principle to a proposal from Shankar Netralaya of Chennai to start a 200-bed eye hospital in Berhampur."
  • As per this Times of India report: "The government on Tuesday asked Bangalore-based Narayana Hrudayalaya, which has taken land from the state government to establish a super-speciality hospital in Bhubaneswar, or start work or return the land. The group assured to start work by September.
  • As per this article in Business Standard: " Odisha government today asked the Centre to set up a National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Science (NIMHANS) besides expediting establishment of a para-medical training institute in the state."
  • As per this article in Telegraph: "The Acharya Harihar Cancer Institute at Cuttack will be upgraded and seats along with number of employees will be enhanced, said Union Health Secretary Prasanna Kumar Pradhan while attending a review meeting here on Sunday. It will be an apex institute in the country, Pradhan added. In the review meeting, Pradhan said Rs 200 crore would be sanctioned during the 12th Five-Year Plan to upgrade this premier cancer treatment institute of the State. Now the institute has 320 beds which will be increased to 600, he added."
  • As per this article in Times of India: "the minister also asked the Union health secretary to expedite process for establishment of the proposed Regional Institute of Paramedical Sciences (RIPS). The state government has already given around 25 acre land for the paramedical institute near the AIIMS."
  • As per this article in Times of India: "The state government sought financial assistance for infrastructure development of the three medical colleges to increase the MBBS seat strength from the current 150 to 250 each."
  • As per this article in Times of India: "The government also submitted a proposal to create super-speciality disciplines in VSS Medical College and Hospital, Burla and MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur. The government has sought central assistance of Rs 150 crore each for superspeciality faculty in the two hospitals."
  • As per this article in Times of India: "Acharya requested the Union health secretary to upgrade the geriatric ward of SCB Medical College and Hospital into a Regional Geriatric centre. Designating a regional centre will attract better central funding, Acharya said. "

A good news and a bad news:

  • Good News: Hi-Tech medical college in Rourkela has got approval to admit 100 students fro this academic year. This will be the 4th private medical college (and the first outside of Bhubaneswar) in operation in Odisha.
  • Bad News: KIMS Bhubaneswar has been debarred to admit students for two year.

Paralakhemundi to have broad gauge passenger train service from the 18th December 2010; Hirakhand Express extended to Jagdalpur (via Jeypore) from the same day

Gajapati, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Naupada - Gunupur (Gauge conversion), Railway Budget 2010, Vizag ..Shimiliguda - Koraput - Dhanapur ..Kirandul 9 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Orissadiary.

217 Puri-Palasa passenger which is leaving Puri at 07.50a.m and arriving Palasa at 03.25p.m will leave Palasa at 04.30p.m and will arrive at Paralakhemundi at 06.45p.m in the extended portion. In the return direction, 218 Paralakhemundi-Puri Passenger will leave Paralakhemundi at 07.45a.m and will arrive at Puri at 09.05p.m.

This train will stop at Pundi, Rauthpuram, Naupada, Tekkali, Pedasana, Temburu, Ganguvada, and Pathapatnam between Palasa and Paralakhemundi. The timings of 217/218 Puri-Paralakhemundi-Puri passenger will remain unchanged between Puri & Palasa. The train will run as a special train on the flagging off day of the extended portion and the regular run will be from Puri w.e.f 19th December and from Paralakhemundi w.e.f 20th Dec’2010.

8447 Bhubaneswar-Koraput Hirakhand Express, which is leaving Bhubaneswar at 07.35p.m and arriving Koraput at 09.45a.m on the next day, will leave Koraput at 10.05a.m and will arrive at Jagadalpur at 12.40p.m in the extended portion. In the return direction, 8448 Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express will leave Jagadalpur at 03.30p.m and will arrive at Bhubaneswar at 08.25a.m on the next day.

This train will stop at Jeypore and Jagadalpur in the extended portion. The timings of 8447/8448 Bhubaneswar-Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express will remain unchanged between Bhubaneswar and Koraput. The train will run as a special train on the day of flagging off of the extended portion and the regular run will be from Bhubaneswar on 18th December and from Jagadalpur from 19th Dec’2010.

International airport at Bhubaneswar and functioning airports at Jharsuguda and Jeypore

Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Jeypore, Jharsuguda, Jharsugurha, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Khordha, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sambalpur-Burla-Jharsuguda 6 Comments »

Tathya.in has an article about this. Following are some excerpts.

The Odishans world-wide now recognize the need of International Flights to Bhubaneswar and Domestic Flights to Jharsuguda in order to effectively connect to the hi-tech businesses and tourism around the world.

Without the requisite air connectivity, Odisha cannot expect a jumpstart in development given all the potential that the state has in Tourism, Education and IT, feels Purna Mohanty, leading Non Resident Odia(NRO).

It all started during Pre Invest Bhubaneswar meeting at Hotel Swosti in May 2010, said he.

And then further concretized with hard-copy signature campaign during Invest Bhubaneswar and OSA Convention during 1-4 July, followed by Ratha Yatra Festival in Silicon Valley, CA, USA.

The signature campaign was completed and submitted to Prime Minister, Civil Aviation Minister, Chief Minister and Member of Parliaments.

NROs are thus presenting an overall proposal of Air connectivity in Odisha, with a request to consider & expedite the implementation of the following at the minimum:

Upgrade the 6 decade old regional Airport at Bhubaneswar to an International Airport at the earliest possible.

Expedite and complete the construction of ongoing western regional Jharsugda Airport in Jharsugda district, in western Odisha, within next two years.

The petitionodisha site has a petition on immediate upgradations of airports in Odisha. Please visit it. Besides signing it please also send emails (email addresses of where to send is given here) as in my experience emails have more impact than e-petitions. While our earlier email sample only mentioned Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda, the petition adds Jeypore. It is indeed a good location for a 3rd functioning airport of Odisha. (We earlier wrote about it.) Feel free to add that to your email. 


Pointers to relevant postings from the past:

Development locations in the three regions of Odisha – in maps

Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Balasore- Chandipur, Baripada- Bangiriposi- Similipal foothills, Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar and vicinity, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Dhamara- Chandbali- Bhitarakanika, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Overall Odisha, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga, Rayagada- Therubali, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima 1 Comment »

The Coastal Belt.

The Western Industrial Belt.

The Southwestern & Central Outposts.

The Central & Southwestern Outposts of Odisha

Balangir, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, KBK Plus district cluster, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Rayagada- Therubali 1 Comment »

Earlier we discussed the coastal belt and the western industrial corridor. However, there is a big part of Odisha outside of these two areas. Although, that area was long neglected except small industrial pockets in Rayagada and Koraput area, things have started happening in the overall area. Following is a map of that.

In the map above Berhampur and Balangir are reference points for the southern tip of the coastal belt and western industrial area respectively. Coming back to the outposts the current industrial areas are:

  • Koraput-Jeypore Sunabeda and
  • Rayagada-Therubali

They are 150 kms apart. Besides industries, both areas have several engineering colleges and a central university (possibly with a medical college) is coming up near Koraput.

North of Rayagada-Therubali is the Lanjigarh operations of Vedanta and its emerging township. How fast this area develops will depend on how quick there is an understanding between the loacls and the Vedanta people.

Further north is the Bhawanipatna-Kesinga-Titlagarh area. Titlagarh is a railway junction. A train line connecting Bhawanipatna and Junagarh to Lanjigarh rd of the Raygada-Titlagarh line should have passenger traffic in a couple of years. Recently, Bhawaniptna is getting some attention from the state government in terms of HRD institutions. A government engineering college and a government agricultural college has started here and the higher education task force has recommended a state university here. A private medical college is under construction. (However, its progress is slow.) I hope the government takes over the medical college infrastructure that has been built and makes it a government medical college and a location in this area is chosen for the announced Railway wagon factory.  However, for the area to further develop and develop rapidly, the locals need to actively chip in. They need to learn how locals in the Koraput area, Rayagada area, Gunupur and Parlakhemundi have created  and/or facilitated private HRD infrastructure. (For example, each of them have private engineering colleges.) In addition they should form a win-win partnership with Vedanta. If people don’t help themselves and don’t stop actively opposing private development instead of facilitating it, there is only so much the governments can do.

On the eastern side Parlakhemundi and Gunupur are slowly emerging as educational mini-hubs. The JITM and CRESM in Parlakhemundi are together becoming a private university and Gunupur has the biggest (in terms of student intake) engineering college (private or government) of the state. The railway line connecting Gunupur and Parlakhemundi to the Howrah-Chennai line at Naupada is about to start passenger service.

The lone central outpust is Phulbani. At present it has nothing much except some negative name recognition. The government needs to pay attention to this starting with pushing for the early establishment of a branch of the Tribal University here.


However, there are still several areas which are being left out. This includes the area south of Koraput (namely the Malkangiri district) and the districts of Nabarangpur and Nuapada. Unless development spreads there, they will be the new KBK of Odisha.

Update on Aditya Birla group’s projects in Odisha

Aluminium, Bauxite, Birlas, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Sambalpur, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima, TOI, Economic Times 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Economic Times.

Aditya Birla Group chairman, Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla is very hopeful of completion of the Rs 4,500-crore alumina refinery plant coming up at Kashipur in Koraput district and expansion of Hindalco aluminium smelter project at Hirakud in Sambalpur district

… In June last year, the Orissa government had recommended the union mining ministry to allot mining lease of Lakharis bauxite deposit in Koraput district in favour of Hindalco Industries Limited, the flagship company of Aditya Birla Group.

This is the second bauxite deposit to be allotted to the Group, which entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Orissa government in April, 2005 is to set up a world-class aluminium complex in the state.

Officials said the Lakharis mine is estimated to have about 45 million bauxite deposits.

Earlier, the Hindalco was allotted Kodingamali bauxite deposit in the district for its proposed aluminium complex at Kansari.

Aditya Aluminium (another unit of Hindalco) had signed a MoU with the Orissa government on April 8, 2005 to set up an integrated aluminium complex in the state. The project involves a total investment of Rs 11,500 crores for production of 1.5 lakh tones of alumina and 3.25 lakh tonnes of aluminium per annum.

Aditya Aluminium has already signed a joint venture umbrella agreement with the Orissa Mining Corporation for bauxite mining in Koraput district.

The company has sought 2012 acres of land for its refinery and 3331 acres for the smelter, sources said.

The state government is in the process of acquiring land for the project, but faces problem in some villages, the sources added resulting in the delay in grounding of the project.

Koraput MP says air service to Jeypore to start within 6 months: Orissadiary

Jeypore, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi Comments Off on Koraput MP says air service to Jeypore to start within 6 months: Orissadiary

Following is an excerpt from a report in Orissadiary.

“With in coming 6 months the 32 seated Aero-service to commence from Jeypore”, declared by MP Shri. Jayaram Pangi along with some Administration Officials at Jeypore Airport. …

During past 1962 the said Airport was established by Ex-Chief Minister Biju Pattanik. During 1980 the service commenced on those days from Jeypore to Vishakapatnam and Bhubaneswar. But now days the said Airport get activated during the VIP visits only. After establishing HAL at Sunabeda the said Airport was established, but the importance found raised after the establishment of NALCO at Damanjodi.

 

Orissa’s future airport plans

Balasore- Chandipur, Baripada- Bangiriposi- Similipal foothills, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Bringing International Connectivity, Jeypore, Jharsuguda, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Odisha govt. action, Rasgovindpur (Balasore-Baripada-Jaleswar), Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima 5 Comments »

Update: Expressbuzz also reports on this.


Following is from today’s Dharitri.

From the above, and its actions in the past, it seems that Orissa government’s future plan in terms of airports are:

  • Make an international airport in Bhubaneswar. (Shifting to the new location will take another 10 years.)
  • Make an airport in Jharsuguda to cater for Bargarh-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela belt: Will take 2-3 yrs to be operational.
  • Plan for an airport in Jeypore: Will take 8-10 years to be operational
  • Plan for an airport in Rasgovindpur (near Jaleswar, close to Balasore and Baripada): Will take 8-10 years to be operational

Couple of implications of the above are: Berhampur and Rourkela may not get functional airports in the near future (say next 10 years) as they are close to airports at Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda respectively. The overall airport situation in Orissa in 10 years will be as follows:

Now lets analyze how feasible the airports at Jeypore and Rasgovindpur will be.

  • Jeypore: It is 258 kms from Visakhapatnam by Rail and 224 kms by road. It is 378 kms from Raipur; 450 kms from Jharsuguda and 520 kms from Bhubaneswar. It will be at the junction of two expressways and thus would be able to serve a large population in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.
  • Rasgovindpur: It will be 30-40 kms from Balasore and Baripada; 70-80 kms from Digha; 80-90 kms from Kharagpur mostly on the expressway; 90-100 kms from Bhadrak mostly on the expressway, close to two expressways; 200kms from Kolkata airport;  210-220 kms from Tatanagar and 260-270 kms from Bhubaneswar. (Tatanagar being only 170 kms from Ranchi may not have a viable commercial airport for some time. Kharagpur being 120 kms from Kolkata will not have a viable commercial airport for a long time.) Thus it is far enough to the nearest airports in Bhubaneswar and DumDum (Kolkata), but at the same time there are enough population centers (Balasore, Baripada, Bhadrak, Digha, Kharagpur, Medinipur, Jhargram, Ghatsila) that will be close to this airport than the existing airports. So this aiport could serve a significant population in Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

NALCO in the spotlight: MOU with IDCO for a downstream aluminum park; gets mines in Andhra; plans abroad wrt Indonesia and Iran

Aluminium, Angul, Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, NALCO Comments Off on NALCO in the spotlight: MOU with IDCO for a downstream aluminum park; gets mines in Andhra; plans abroad wrt Indonesia and Iran

NALCO has its headquarter in Bhubaneswar. In Orissa, its major operations are in Angul and Damanjodi (Koraput). This week there has been several different news reports about it. We start with an excerpt from a report in Telegraph about the proposed aluminum park in Angul.

An MoU was signed between the central public sector National Aluminium Company (Nalco) and state-owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) here this evening.

… The proposed aluminium park, with an estimated cost of Rs 75 crore, will be located at Angul close to the smelter plant of Nalco, said its chairman and managing director C.R. Pradhan.

Nalco and Idco will set up a joint venture on 50:50 basis soon after signing the MoU, he said.

A pre-feasibility study for the aluminium park was conducted by AF Ferguson and 200 acre land has already been earmarked. Electricity, water, road facilities would be developed soon, Pradhan said.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Financial Express about the bauxite mine it got in Andhra Pradesh.

National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco) is all set to go ahead with its Rs 6,000 crore aluminium complex venture in Andhra Pradesh as the bauxite mines it had sought has been cleared by the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government. The company has bagged Gudem and Katamraju Konda bauxite mines in AP, which promises a deposit of 85 million tonne of bauxite, according to a Nalco spokesperson.

Nalco plans to build a 1.4 million tonne green field alumina refinery based on the Gudem and KR Konda bauxite deposits at Visakhapatnam at an estimated investment of Rs 6,000 crore.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Reuters.

NALCO plans to build a 310,000 tonne smelter and a power plant in Iran with Iran’s Kerman Development Organisation in a project that would cost it 80 billion rupees ($1.7 billion).

"Maybe in a month or two we will go ahead for signing the joint venture agreement with our local partner," B.L. Bagra, NALCO’s director of finance, told Reuters.

… Another overseas venture in Indonesia for a smelter and power plant was awaiting port and rail concessions by the Indonesia government, Bagra said.

New poultry operation in South Orissa; Three Sub-ordinating offices of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Diarying are in Orissa

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Central govt. schemes, Khordha, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Poultry farming, Sambalpur, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima Comments Off on New poultry operation in South Orissa; Three Sub-ordinating offices of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Diarying are in Orissa

Following is from a report in farminguk.com.

The large poultry farm meant for research and promotion of poultry farming in south Orissa had been closed down due to management problems. It was revived and modernised with Central aid. It would serve as a major breeding farm in south Orissa. The chicks produced in this poultry farm would be sold to poultry farmers of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Nayagarh districts.

The Regional Poultry Farm is ready to start its sale of newly-hatched chicks from 29 April. … The farm has decided to specialize in breeding ’Banraj’ breed of poultry. The head of the farm, G.Naresh Kumar informed that at present the animal husbandry department is promoting this breed among rural poultry farmers.

The Banraj breed is being promoted to cash on the market of organic chickens of traditional breeds, which are still grown in large numbers in rural areas in an unorganised manner. The traditional breeds are slow growing yet they have a good market and fetch good price in market. It may be noted that similar poultry farms of the State government at Chiplima, Angul, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sundergarh, Bolangir, Semiliguda and Koraput are also being modernised to meet the increasing need of poultry products in Orissa.

The Government of India has a Department of Animal Husbandry and Diarying under its ministry of Agriculture. That Department has the following sub-ordinating offices, of which three are in Orissa. Orissa should try to get a Fisheries division office.

I. Animal Husbandry Division

  1. # Central Cattle Breeding Farm, P.O. Dhamrod, District Surat, Gujarat.
  2. # Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Andesh Nagar, District Lakhimpur, (UP).
  3. # Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Similiguda, P.O. Sunabada (Koraput) Orissa.
  4. # Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Suratgarh (Rajasthan).
  5. # Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Chiplima, P.O. Basantpur, District Samalpur, (Orissa).
  6. # Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Avadi, Alamadhi (Madras).
  7. # Central Cattle Breeding Farm,P.O. Hessarghatta, Bangalore North.
  8. # Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute, Hessarghatta, Bangalore North.
  9. # Central Herd Registration Unit, W-15, Jagdish Colony, Rohtak (Haryana).
  10. # Central Herd Registration Unit, W-34, G.N.M. Colony, Christian Ganj, Ajmer – 305 001.
  11. # Central Herd Registration Unit, 10, Gautam Vihar, Cooperative Society Building, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad.
  12. # Central Herd Registration Unit, Santhapat, Ongole 523 001, District Prakasam (A.P.)
  13. # Regional Station for Forage Production & Demonstration, P.O. Netaji Subhash Sanitorium, Kalyani, Distt Nadia (W Bengal).
  14. # Regional Station for Forage Production & Demonstration, 48, Rajbagh (Extension) Srinagar (J&K).
  15. # Regional Station for Forage Production & Demonstration, Suratgarh (Rajasthan).
  16. # Regional Station for Forage Production & Demonstration, P.O. Textile Mill Hissar (Ha ryana)_.
  17. # Regional Station for Forage Production & Demonstration, GA 128/2, Sector No. 30, Gandhinagar, (Gujarat).
  18. # Regional Station For Forage Production & Demonstration, Avadi, Alamadhi, (Madras)-600052.
  19. # Regional Station for Forage Production & Demonstration, Mamidipally, Via Keshavagiri, Hyderabad – 500005.
  20. # Central Fodder Seed Production Farm, Hessarghatta, Bangalore North.
  21. # Animal Quarantine & Certification Service Station, Delhi -Gurgaon Road, Kapashera Village, New Delhi.
  22. # Animal Quarantine & Certification Service Station, Velachary Main Road, P.O. Pallikarni Village, Madras – 601 302.
  23. # Animal Quarantine & Certification Service Station, Village Gopalpur, P.O. Gopalpur, Distt Choubis parganas (W Bengal).
  24. # Animal Quarantine & Certification Service Station, Bombay – 400 065.
  25. # Central Sheep Breeding Farm, P.O. Box No. 10, Hissar – 125 001 (Haryana).
  26. # Central Poultry Development Organization, Southern Region, Hessarghatta, Bangalore North.
  27. # Central Poultry Development Organization, Eastern Region, Bhubaneshwar.
  28. # Central Poultry Development Organization, Western Region, Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai.
  29. # Central Poultry Development Organization, Northern Region, Industial Area Chandigarh.
  30. # Random Sample Poultry Performance Testing Centre, 69/4, Urban Estate, Gurgaon (Haryana).

II Dairy Development Division

  1. # Delhi Milk Scheme, West Patel Nagar, New Delhi.

III Fisheries Division

  1. # Central Institute of Coastal Engineering For Fishery, Bangalore
  2. # Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training, Cochin.
  3. # Integrated Fisheries Project, Cochin.
  4. # Fisheries Survey of India, Mumbai.
  5. # Aquaculture Authority, Chennai.

Urbanizing Orissa and developing civil societies across Orissa – work in progress

Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Balangir, Balasore- Chandipur, Baripada- Bangiriposi- Similipal foothills, Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Dhamara- Chandbali- Bhitarakanika, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga, Rayagada- Therubali, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima 2 Comments »

I believe that for Orissa to develop several urban centers and clusters need to be developed. So far many are developing. The ones marked with red are either developed or are in the path of development. The one in purple (Keonjhar) has a good chance of development. The three green ones in the big green zone, denoting Bhwanipatna, Balangir and Phulbani are in need of development. The following table lists what these various urban areas and clusters have or are going to have and what they don’t have and the govt. should make efforts to fulfill those lacunae.

Urban- clusters Univs Medical Colleges Rail con. Empl. venues Needs Notes

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Khurda

(1.6 million)

Many Many Good Many

International

airport

 
Rourkela NIT, BPUT No Good Many

Airport, 

Talcher- Bimlagarh , Comp. University

 

 
Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur BU MKCG Good Many Upgrade MKCG to AIIMS  
Sambalpur – Burla – Hirakud SU VSS Good Many Make UCE a unitary university  
Puri- Vedanta University SJU, Vedanta University planned Vedanta University Medical College is planned Good Many    
Paradeep- Kujanga None None Good

Port, POSCO,

PCPIR

University, Medical College  
Dhamara- Chandabali None None In constr Port (in constr), Shipyard University, Medical College  
Vyasanagar- Kalinganagar None None Good Many University, Medical College  
Jharsuguda- Belpahar – Brajarajnagar None None Good Many University, Medical College, Airport  
Angul- Talcher – Nalconagar None MCL plans a medical college Good Many University  
Balasore- Chandipur FMU None Good some Medical College, Develop industry  
Koraput- Sunabeda- Jeypore – Damanjodi Central University None Good Many Medical College  
Rayagada- Therubali None None Good Many University, Medical College  
Baripada- Similipal NOU None So-so some

Medical College,

Chakulia- Buramara rail connectivity

 
Keonjhar None None Good expected University, Medical College, Upgrade OSME Hope Arcelor Mittal’s plan works out
Bhawanipatna – Kesinga – Junagarh – Vedanta Nagar – Lanjigarh Rd None None In the works expected University, Medical College Hope Vedanta establishes a good township here
Balangir None None so-so very little University, Medical College, Needs more industries Govt. need to FOCUS.
Phulbani None None NONE very little University, Medical College, Lanjigarh Rd – Phulbani – Angul line needed asap, more industries Govt. need to FOCUS.
Bhadrakh None None Good some In between Kalinganagar & Balasore Train to branch off to Dhamara here
Joda – Badbil None None Ok mines University, Medical College, Trains to BBSR needed
Parlakhemundi None None

In Constr

very little University, Medical College, JITM

As noted above, all these places should have a university, a medical college, good rail connectivity and several job centers.

Tiger reserve in Sunabeda approved

Hindu, Business line, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, National Parks and Sanctuaries, Sunabeda tiger reserve Comments Off on Tiger reserve in Sunabeda approved

Following is an excerpt from a report in the Hindu:

Five wildlife sanctuaries in the country will soon be getting tiger reserve status for better management of the conservation plans for the big cat in its core habitat.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority in a meeting held recently has given an "in-principle" approval to four new reserves, a senior official said on Friday.

These are Sunabeda Tiger Reserve in Orissa, Shahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh and Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

At present, there are 28 tiger reserves in the country.

10 crores for Berhampur, Koraput, Angul and Parla for drinking water system: Dharitri

Angul, Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Dharitri (in Odia), Drinking water projects, Gajapati, Ganjam, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, URBAN DEV. & RENEWAL Comments Off on 10 crores for Berhampur, Koraput, Angul and Parla for drinking water system: Dharitri

Neglected Jeypore airoprt that was established in 1962: Dharitri

Airports, Jeypore, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi 1 Comment »

Sky airways ad in Samaja: Connecting Bhubaneswar with Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Burla, Keonjhar, Barbil, Jepore, Rayagada and Damanjodi

Airports and air connectivity, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Jajpur, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Jharsugurha, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Rayagada, Rayagada- Therubali, Sambalpur, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima, Sky Airways 13 Comments »

Following is a bit of information on Sky Airways:

… Sky Airways (backed by the M.L. Agarwal group, with business interests in Orissa�s mining and steel sectors) …

20070907a_001101011sky.jpg

Indian Railways must give ECOR and Orissa its fair share: KBK and other adivasi areas of Orissa and India can not be left behind while rest of India marches forward with high speed rail; metro rail and freight corridors

Balangir, Bhadrakh-Dhamara, Bhubaneswar-Nayagarh, Bouda, CENTER & ODISHA, Gajapati, INDUSTRY and INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENTS and INVESTMENT PLANS, Kalahandi, Khordha, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarha, Nuapada, Planning Commission and Odisha, Puri, Puri - Konark, Railways, Rayagada, Rayagada- Therubali, Sonepur, Sundergarh 1 Comment »

(1) ECOR GM Shri Surendra Singh Khurana in his Independence Day address (available at http://eastcoastrailway.gov.in/custom/press_release/index.php) while talking about ECOR, said:

 

 “With only 4% of the track of Indian Railways, we cater for about 12% of total loading of Indian railway and about 7% of total earning of IR.”

 

(2) From http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/irfca/messages

 

For the 2003-2004 and 2004-05 the working expense as part of gross earnings of the ECOR zone is the second best at 66.64% and 61.75% respectively.

 
  • The profit making zones in those years were
    • South east central (62.8% and 56.1%),
    • ECOR (66.64% and 61.75%),
    • North central (76.33% and 66.71%),
    • Central (80.29% and 82.48%),
    • South eastern (81.24% and 83.51%),
    • South Central (85.72% and 83.62%),
    • West Central (80.99% and 84.08%),
    • South Western (91.35% and 86.15%),
    • Western (93.21% and 90.85%),
    • Northern (91.08% and 92.89%) and
    • East Central (93.65% and 98.9%).
 
  • The loss making zones were:
    • metro Kolkata (247% and 264.38%),
    • North Eastern (151.93% and 160.88%),
    • Northeast Frontier (147.98% and 159.45%),
    • Eastern (161.3% and 152.84%),
    • Southern (118.55% and 120.79%) and
    • North Western ( 106.26% and 104.98%).
 

(3) Based on (1) and (2) above ECOR probably makes about 10% of Indian Railways profit.

 
 
 
 
 
 
(4) The above raises the following questions:
 

Why does not ECOR have the track length commensurate with the earnings it makes?

 

Why are no serious efforts being made to correct this; especially with many planned lines being given only minimal annual budgets which in many cases are less than the annual inflation.

 
(5) (Using the data in
http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/deptts/stat-eco/yrbk0405/2004_05/YB_04_05/Track_Bridges.pdf)
 

In terms of rail density: the average rail density (2004-05) for India is 19.13; the rail density is highest in Delhi (138.2) followed by West Bengal (43.4), Punjab (41.6), Haryana (36.1), Bihar (35.9), Uttar Pradesh (35.8), etc. while Chhatisgarh (8.6) and Orissa (14.6) are among the states with low rail densities.

 

(6) The data from (1-3) and (5) show that while Indian Railways is making a lot of revenue and profit from ECOR (big part of which is in Orissa) and also SER (part of which is in Orissa), both ECOR and Orissa have been grossly neglected. This is true about the past; what about the future?

 
(7) From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/07/30/stories/2007073050170600.htm

Mr V. N. Mathur, Member (Traffic) of the Railway Board is reported to have said:

 

“We’ve submitted to the Planning Commission a Rs 251,000-crore proposal for implementation by the end of the Eleventh Plan. We’ve indicated mobilisation of Rs 90,000 crore from within and 29 per cent of the projected estimate by way of market borrowing. For the balance, we may have to approach the government for support. But then nothing has yet been finalised.”

 

 (8) Many expensive and highflying plans by Indian Railways for the 11th plan, but most bypass Orissa and ECOR.

 

(8A) Freight Corridor: Various news reports suggest that the 11th plan (next 5-7 years) will take up the western and eastern corridors.

 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/India_Business/Dedicated_railway_freight_corridor_enters_crucial_phase/rssarticleshow/2299686.cms

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/9030.html

 

Western Corridor: 1,483-km Delhi-Mumbai route

Eastern Corridor: 1,280-km Delhi-Kolkata route
 

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/17/stories/2006091708640400.htm reports that the “Chennai-Kolkata and Chennai-Mumbai corridors will be included in the second phase of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Project.” 

(8B) High Speed Corridors:

 
http://zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=388176&ssid=50&ssname=&sid=BUS&sname=
 

“Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar, Mumbai-Baroda-Ahmedabad, Chennai-Bangalore-Coimbatore and Howrah-Asansol-Patna — were announced in the current rail budget.”

 

(8C) Metro Rails and rapid transit systems: From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_India#Metro   and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalore_Metro

 

The following are the existing or under construction/expansion metro rail projects.

  • Delhi Metro
  • Hyderabad Metro
  • Kolkata Metro
  • Kolkata Suburban Railway
  • Lucknow MEMU 
  • Chennai Metro
  • Mumbai Suburban Railway
  • Bangalore Metro
  • Mumbai Metro •
  • Thane Metro
  • In planning:
    • Ahmedabad Metro
    • Kochi Metro
    • Goa
    • Pune
 

(9) In essence revenue and profit generated in ECOR is being ploughed into other parts of India, which by itself is not wrong as Orissa is a part of India, but lets analyze who are the losers: the adivasi and backward areas of Orissa (and hence of India) who are backward partly because lack of proper connectivity, and this neglect continues to keep them backward and prevents them from catching up.

 
Am I making this up?
 

No, here are the data and following it is what planning commission teams have themselves said.

 

(10) The tribal population percentage of the KBK districts are as follows:
Malkangiri 58.36% (+19.96% SC), Rayagada 56.04% (+14.28% SC), Nabarangpur 55.27% (+15.09% SC), Koraput 50.67% (+13.41% SC), Nuapada 35.95% (+13.09% SC), Kalahandi 28.88% (+17.01% SC), Sonepur 22.11% (+9.5% SC), Balangir 22.06% (+15.39% SC). Two adjacent districts also have high tribal population. They are Kandhamala 51.51% (+18.21% SC) and Gajapati 47.88% (+8.77% SC).  Tirbal percentage of Mayurbhanj is 57.87% and Sundergarh is 50.74%.

(11) The literacy rates in the KBK districts are abysmally low. Malkangiri 31.26%, Nabarangpur 34.26%, Rayagada 35.61%, Koraput 36.2%, Nuapada 42.29%, Kalahandi 46.2%, Balangir 54.93%, Sonepur 64.07%. Two adjacent districts also have low literacy: Gajapati 41.73% and Kandhamala 52.95%. The state average is 63.1%.

(12) Population below the poverty line in southern Orissa (of which KBK is a part) is reported to be 89.17% of the people according to the 1999-2000 NSS data and 72% of the families according to the 1997 census.

 

(13) From http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article174.html

Table 1 provides State level data on poverty ratios during 2004-05. The lowest poverty ratio was 5.4 per cent for Jammu and Kashmir and highest poverty ratio was for Orissa (46.4 per cent). States with poverty ratio of less than 15 per cent were Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. As against them, States with poverty ratio above 30 per cent were Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Orissa.

Table 1: Number and Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line (2004-05) based on URP Consumption

 
 
Rural
 
 
 
Urban
 
 
 
Combined
 
State
% of Persons
No. of persons (in lakhs)
% of Persons
No. of Persons (in lakhs)
% of persons
No. of persons(in lakhs)
S.No.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
1 Jammu & Kashmir
4.6
3.7
7.9
2.2
5.4
5.9
2 Punjab
9.1
15.1
7.1
6.5
8.4
21.6
3 Himachal Pradesh
10.7
6.1
3.4
0.2
10.0
6.4
4 Goa
5.4
0.4
21.3
1.6
13.8
2.0
5 Haryana
13.6
21.5
15.1
10.6
14.0
32.1
6 Delhi
6.9
0.6
15.2
22.3
14.7
22.9
7 Kerala
13.2
32.4
20.2
17.2
15.0
49.6
8 Andhra Pradesh
11.2
64.7
28.0
61.4
15.8
126.1
9 Gujarat
19.1
63.5
13.0
27.2
16.8
90.7
10 Assam
22.3
54.5
3.3
1.3
19.7
55.8
11 Rajasthan
18.7
87.4
32.9
47.5
22.1
134.9
12 Tamil Nadu
22.8
76.5
22.2
69.1
22.5
145.6
13 West Bengal
28.6
173.2
14.8
35.1
24.7
208.3
14 Karnataka
20.8
75.0
32.6
63.8
25.0
138.9
15 All-India
28.3
2209.2
25.7
808.0
27.5
3017.2
16 Maharashtra
29.6
171.1
32.2
146.3
30.7
317.4
17 Uttar Pradesh
33.4
473.0
30.6
117.0
32.8
590.0
18 Madhya Pradesh
36.9
175.7
42.1
74.0
38.3
249.7
19 Uttarakhand
40.8
27.1
36.5
8.9
39.6
36.0
20 Jharkhand
46.3
103.2
20.2
13.2
40.3
116.4
21 Chattisgarh
40.8
71.5
41.2
19.5
40.9
91.0
22 Bihar
42.1
336.7
34.6
32.4
41.4
369.2
23 Orissa
46.8
151.8
44.3
26.7
46.4
178.5
 

Note: States have been arranged in the ascending order on the basis of combined poverty ratio in 2004-05. Poverty line: Rs 356.0 in rural areas and Rs 538.6 in urban areas (Per capita monthly expenditure).

Source: Planning Commission, Press Release, March 2007.

Five States, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa accounted for 166 million poor (about 55 per cent of the total poor estimated at 302 million). This shows the high concentration of poor in these five States.

(14) Planning Commission: The Planning Commission in its report comparing the development status of economic infrastructure of Orissa, especially the KBK region, vis-à-vis the country says:

(See http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/sdr_orissa/sdr_orich2.doc)
 

"Railways have always played an important role in economic development and rapid social transformation in all parts of the globe. It is one of the key economic infrastructures. However, it is most unfortunate that in a poor and backward state like Orissa, development of rail networks has received much less attention of the Central Government in the post-independence period. There are as many as seven districts like Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur out of the 30 districts of the state, which do not have any railway line passing through them. In the year 1998-99, the density of railway route length per 1000 sq. km of area in Orissa was only 15.03 km as against 42.66 km in West Bengal and 19.11 km. at all-India level”.

 
 

 (15) What we are asking with respect to KBK and adivasi areas of Orissa?

 

We are asking the current PM and the current planning commission to pay attention to what the planning commission report says in (15) and the data in (11)-(14).

 

In particular, we would like the following lines to be completed during the 11th plan.

 

1)     Khurda – Balangir (This brings Railways to districts of Boudha, Sonepur and Nayagarh and bring Balangir – a part of KBK- closer to the state capital. This line of 290 km, initially budgeted at 700 crores, has all the necessary studies done, and its survey was complete before May 2004. It should be targeted to be completed within the next 2-3 years.)

2)     Gunupur-Theruvali (The Orissa govt. is ready to use PPP for this. This should also be done in 2-3 years together with the broad gauge conversion of Naupada-Gunupur line)

Lanjigarh Rd – Bhawanipatna – Junagarh – Nabarangpur- Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Rd in Andhra Pradesh. (The first phase of this Lanjigarh Rd – Junagarh is 56 km with an estimated cost of 120 crores. 15% of it was completed before May 2004. This should be completed immediately within 1-2 years. This line lies completely within the KBK districts and when finished will bring Railways to the districts of Nabarangpur and Malkangiri. Moreover, the Malkangiri-Bhadrachalam Rd part could go through a bit of Chhatisgrah. This line will create a shorter and alternative Ranchi-Hyderabad route and bring connectivity to an area that is currently havited by many extremist groups. Not much has been done beyond Junagarh, so this must be immediately approved and work started so that the line gets completed by the end of the 11th plan.)

Talcher – Bimlagarh (This is 154 km long and was estimated at Rs 727 crore. This will bring the tribal district of Sundergarh much closer to Orissa, connect a dangling line, and will bring passenger rail to big parts of Sundergarh. This should be completed in 3-4 years.)

Bangiriposi-Gurumahishasini and/or Buramara-Chakulia.

(These lines connect dangling lines and will bring passenger rail to big parts of the tribal district of Mayurbhanj. Not much has been done, so this must be immediately approved and work started so that the line gets completed by the end of the 11th plan.)

Badampahar-Keonjhar (This line also  connecst dangling lines and will bring passenger rail to big parts of the tribal district of Mayurbhanj. Not much has been done, so this must be immediately approved and work started so that the line gets completed by the end of the 11th plan.)

 
(16) Impact of just 1-3 in (16) above.
  1. Parlakhemundi, the district headquarter of Gajapati (part of KBK+) will be on Broad gauge rail and will be 305 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital).
  2. Sonepur, the district HQ of Sonepur district will be on connected by rail and will be 259 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital).
  3. Boudh, the district HQ of Boudha district will be connected by Rail and will be 217 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital).
  4. Nayagarha, the district HQ of Nayagarha district will be connected by Rail and will be 84 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital).
  5. Bhawanipatna, the district HQ of Kalahandi district (part of KBK) will be connected by Rail and will be 450 kms from Bhubaneswar via Balangir and 504 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital) via Gunupur.
  6. Malkangiri, the district HQ of Malkangiri district (part of KBK) will  be connected by Rail.
  7. Nabrangpur, the district HQ of Nabrangpur district (part of KBK) will be connected by Rail.
  8. Balangir, the district HQ of Balangir district will now be 309 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 397 kms.
  9. Nawapara Rd, near the district HQ of Nawapara district will now be 459 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 547 kms.
  10. Rayagada, the district HQ of Rayagada district will now be 419 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 502 kms.
  11. Koraput, the district HQ of Koraput district will now be 573 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 676 kms.
  12. Titlagarh, a major junction will now be 373 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 461 kms.
  13. There will be an alternate shorter path from Ranchi to Hyderabad via Titlagarh-Bhawanipatna-Nabrangpur-Jeypore-Malkangiri-Bhadrachalam Rd

(17) Is the Indian railway under the UPA government neglecting Orissa than the previous government?

 
Yes. Here is why?
 

(18) In the 2004 railway budget given at http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=869 (items 35,37) the then Railway Minister Nitish Kumar had proposed the Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana which aimed to complete lines like Khurda-Balangir within the next 5 years. This has been completely sidelined by the UPA government. This is what he said.

 

(18 A) Following is the exact wording, in items 35 and 37 of the 2004 Railway budget.

    * 35. Railways have a large shelf of over 230 projects worth about Rs. 43,000 cr, for construction of New Lines, Gauge Conversion, Doubling, Electrification and Metropolitan Transport Projects. Even with the enhanced budgetary support, non-budgetary initiatives under National Rail Vikas Yojana and other cost sharing mechanisms apart from Defence funding of some projects of strategic importance, there will still be projects valuing Rs. 20,000 cr which would remain unfinished even after the next five years. A large number of these have been sanctioned on socio economic considerations with the intention of connecting remote and backward areas with the rail network. However their progress is very slow on account of inadequate funding, which causes dissatisfaction. Connecting these areas with the rail network will facilitate the economic and social development of these areas and will provide major employment opportunities during construction and thereafter. Keeping these factors in mind, it has been decided to speed up the execution and completion of these projects also in the next five years. I am happy to inform the House that this would be done through an ambitious ‘Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana’, with an additional outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore.
    *

    * 37. This decision to accelerate the completion of all projects in five years is expected, on a broad estimate, to provide yearly employment to about 3 lakh persons during the construction period. Once opened for traffic, these lines would also require about 18000 persons per year for normal maintenance and operations, on incremental basis. Apart from this, it is expected that there will be scope for indirect employment of nearly 55000 persons per year. The ‘Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana’ will go a long way in changing the economic and social scenario of the remote and backward regions of the country and bringing the people of these areas into the mainstream. Further, the demand for steel, cement, rolling stock, fittings, components, plant and machinery will also be generated, boosting the economic growth of the entire country.

 

(18 B) World Bank:

 

http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/240060/India%20%20financing%20infrastructure%20-%20addressing%20constraints%20and%20challenges.pdf
June 2006 report (page 70 above Table A8)

The second project envisaged by the railways was announced in the interim Budget of 2004- 05 and is called Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana (RARSY). This involves executing and completing hitherto sanctioned projects related to connecting remote and backward areas with the rail network till 2010. The total investments in these projects is valued at Rs.200 billion. Presumably this is to be entirely funded by budget
support.

 

(18 C)   http://164.100.24.208/ls/CommitteeR/Railways/16th-Report.pdf
Railway Standing Committee Report 2005-06

Page 19:

To bridge this gap and considering the slow progress, projects especially in backward, underdeveloped and remote areas due to constraint of resources, Government had announced "Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana" (RARSY) in the Interim Budget 2004-05 which envisages investment of about Rs.20,000 crore in a period of 5 years on ongoing projects taken up on socio-economic considerations. However, the funds for the Yojana are yet to be tied up. Government in has attached priority to  infrastructure development. Keeping this commitment in view, a proposal has  been mooted for creation of Remote Area Rail Infrastructure Fund for financing the RARSY. If the Government approves the funding of this Yojana, all the ongoing projects will get completed in five years. The yojana is being processed in consultation with the Ministry of Finance for approval of the Government duly identifying the funding sources. A note in this regard is under process in the Ministry for consideration of Government.

3.10 Giving the details of the new initiatives to address the foregoing funds constraints, the Chairman, Railway Board stated as under:-
"Over the last few years, certain initiatives have been taken to see how we will fund over projects so that the pace of adding new lines, gauge conversion and doubling speeds up. We have introduced funding through defence for strategic lines. We have got some of the projects declared as the national projects where the funding is given directly by the Government. We have also initiated private participation in some cases, we have also
launched the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited which is generating funds through various sources including the market borrowing. Our need was to generate about Rs.47,000 crore to take care of the projects on the shelf. Out of this, we found that we can generate about Rs.12,500 crore or so out of the normal Budgetary support as per the past trends. We would be generating about Rs.18,000 crore due to the new initiatives that have been taken in the past few years. It still leaves us a gap of about Rs.17,000 crore to take care of
the projects which are by and large non-remunerative projects but they are on the shelf. These are the projects which are connecting distant areas, backward areas. They were sanctioned on socio-economic considerations and so many other considerations. Even for the sum of Rs.17,000 crore, which is our requirement, in the year 2004, in the Interim Budget, a scheme of Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana was introduced. We are yet to finsalise the funding pattern under this scheme. The effort is to involve the State Government’s participation into this scheme as also through other means.
We are yet to give it a final shape."

3.11 In response to the concern of the Committee as to why the completion targets of the projects are not being fixed, the Chairman, Railway Board stated as under:-


"most of these projects will not be completed in the next few years. In fact, the projects where target has not been given is because normally we give targets for projects which are going to be over in the next two to three years.  But where it is going to be a distant period and where we do not know as to how much funds would be allocated for these projects, we do not give targets for those projects. So, wherever targets are given these are the projects which will take more than two to three years to get completed depending on how much funds are given. On our part, we have tried to revive the CapitalFund to see that we can put in more money.

Page 22: Talks about National Projects

3.12 In the absence of adequate internal generation of revenues by the Railways,
the following projects has been declared by the Government as the national Projects in the National interest. The funding for these projects are ensured by the Central Exchequer in the form of additional Budgetary Support to the Railways.

 

(18 D) Summing up this point:

 

In summary, based on earlier planning commission report as excerpted in (14) the 2004 Rail budget had the scheme RARSY which would have completed KBK connectivity lines like Khurda-Blangir. But the UPA government has buried that plan and has talked about burdening the state government for these lines, which since they can not afford, basically means abandoning these lines. This approach needs to be reversed and while India and Indian Railway marches ahead it must not forget the backward and adivasi areas of India and Orissa; especially when it makes money from transporting freight (minerals) from these areas.

 
(19) What are we asking overall?
 

We want Indian government, currently ruled by UPA, and Indian Railways under the UPA government to be fair to Orissa and ECOR. We want SER to be fair to the parts of Orissa that is covered by SER. We now describe what these entails.

 

(19.1) Since Indian Railways has submitted a proposal of 251,000 crores for the 11th Five year plan. We ask that based on ECOR’s 7% revenue and almost 10% profits at least 7% of the budget which is 0.07 X 251,000 =    17,570 crores must be spent in ECOR.

 

Similarly, the appropriate amount to be spent in SER must be calculated, and Orissa must get its fair share for the SER part of Indian Railways that passes through Orissa. This must be calculated transparently as SER often neglects Orissa.

 

(19.2) The above should easily cover the lines that connect KBK and adivasi areas of Orissa. We earlier mentioned this in (16), but let us repeat it for emphasis. (THIS IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.)

 

1)     Khurda – Balangir 

2)     Gunupur-Theruvali

3)     Lanjigarh Rd – Bhawanipatna – Junagarh – Nabarangpur- Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh)

4)     Talcher – Bimlagarh

5)     Bangiriposi -Gurumahishasini and/or Buramara-Chakulia.

6)     Badampahar-Keonjhar

 

(19.3) Port, Industry and Mine connectivity: For these Orissa government can find supporting resources and plans to share the cost via PPP vehicles.

 

1)     Bhadrakh-Dhamara port

2)     Connectivity to Gopalpur Port

3)     Haridaspur-Paradip port

4)     Talcher-Sukinda (mines)

 

(19.4) Commuter rail around Bhubaneswar and appropriate facilities for the commuters

 

The Bhubaneswar area commuter railway consisting of the following segments need to be operationalized with MEMUs and appropriate stations in the Bhubaneswar area to help the commuters without creating jams.

 

Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Puri – Vedanta U – Konark (Past Puri would be new)

Bhubaneswar – Barang – Naraj-Dhenkanal (exists)

Bhubaneswar-KhurdaRd – Khurda-Nayagarh (part of Khurda-Balangir)

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Paradeep (exists)

Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Balugaon-Berhampur (exists)

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Jajpur Rd-Bhadrakh (exists)

Bhubaneswar-Naraj-Salagaon (exists)

Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Khurda-Naraj (Khurda-Naraj will be new and make it a loop)

 

(19.5) While the above are finished during the 11th plan, we will patiently wait for the 12th plan

  • for the 2nd phase of freight corridor involving Howrah-Chennai that will pass through Orissa;
  • for high speed rail between Howrah-Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam-Chennai;
  • for a metro rail for greater Bhubaneswar; and
  • additional lines such as Jaleshwar-Digha, Berhampur-Phulbani, Bargarh-Nawapara Road and Talcher-Berhampur.
 
 

 

Latest HRD roundup from Orissawatch.org

Balasore, Balasore- Chandipur, Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Engineering and MCA Colleges, Ganjam, HRD-n-EDUCATION (details at orissalinks.com), K-12, KBK Plus district cluster, Khordha, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Management institutions, Marquee Institutions: existing and upcoming, Medical, nursing and pharmacy colleges, Odisha and Center, Research institutions, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima, Sundergarh, Universities: existing and upcoming Comments Off on Latest HRD roundup from Orissawatch.org

Latest HRD roundup from Orissawatch.org

Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Bhubaneswar-Berhampur, Ganjam, HRD-n-EDUCATION (details at orissalinks.com), K-12, KBK Plus district cluster, Khordha, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Marquee Institutions: existing and upcoming, Medical, nursing and pharmacy colleges, Odisha and Center, Vocational education Comments Off on Latest HRD roundup from Orissawatch.org

Syndicate Bank and Indian Overseas Bank plan social schemes

Banks, Education and Training Vilalgers, Ganjam, Jatropha, Kalahandi, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Rayagada, Rayagada- Therubali 2 Comments »

Business standard reports that Syndicate Bank and Indian Overseas Bank plan several social schemes involving training villagers. Following are some excerpts from that report.

Syndicate bank said it would take up extension activities in all its rural branches for educating and training villagers in different aspects of agriculture, animal husbandry, plantation and fish rearing.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) said it would organise at least three training camps for women in southern Orissa during 2007-08.

“We have decided to organise at least three training camps on tailoring, handicraft and beauty therapy for rural women in southern Orissa towns at Rayagada, Jeypore and Bhawanipatna” …

At Jeypore in Koraput district, the bank has decided to impart training to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women.

In Rayagada, training to be given to the weaker section people.

Similarly in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi district, women in general categories will get training.

In each camp, scheduled to start in July or August, at least 20 women would be participated.

The respective branch managers would select the women to get training, he said …

After getting training for a fortnight, they would receive financial assistance from the bank for establishment of units in various fields.

“Our corporate office has agreed for three training camps initially and if more number of women come forward for skill and entrepreneurship development, more number of camps will be organised” …

Syndicate Bank would conduct 58 extension activities during 2007-08.

The bank’s Berhampur branch has recently held a farmers’ meeting on jatropha plantation at Narendrapur in Ganjam district in collaboration with the Orissa Nature Care & Council (ONCC), an organisation imparting training on jatropha cultivation for bio-diesel.

ONCC provided technical know-how and inputs for jatropha planting while the bank was financing farmers, …

Syndicate Bank offered Rs 10,000 to each of the 55 farmers in the village for taking up of jatropha plantation, …

Jatropha cultivation was done in about 105 acres in the village.

Syndicate bank would donate Rs 10,000 each for renovation and cleaning of ponds in 10 villages during the current year.

Railways: Getting KBK+ districts closer to the state capital

Balangir, Bouda, BRGF: Backward districts program, Extremist infested districts program, Gajapati, Kalahandi, KBK Plus district cluster, Koraput, Koraput- Jeypore- Sunabedha- Damanjodi, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nayagarha, Nuapada, Railways, Rayagada, Rayagada- Therubali, Sonepur, TOURISM, ENTERTAINMENT and SHOPPING, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION 3 Comments »

The completion of the (a) Kurdha Rd – Balangir new line, (b) Lanjigarh Rd – Junagarh new line, (c) broad gauge conversion of Naupada Rd and Gunupur and (d) the completion of the Gunupur-Theruvali line will have the following benefits. [Among these, with the current funding level (b) and (c) will be completed in a couple of years. What is needed is a big push to complete (a) and (d) in the next 3-4 years.]

  1. Parlakhemundi, the district headquarter of Gajapati will be on Broad gauge rail and will be 305 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital). [c]
  2. Sonepur, the district HQ of Sonepur district will be on Broad gauge rail and will be 259 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital). [a]
  3. Boudh, the district HQ of Boudha district will be on Broad gauge and will be 217 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital).[a]
  4. Nayagarha, the district HQ of Nayagarha district will be on Broad gauge and will be 84 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital). [a]
  5. Bhawanipatna, the district HQ of Kalahandi district will be on Broad gauge and will be 450 kms from Bhubaneswar via Balangir [a,b] and 504 kms from Bhubaneswar (the state capital) via Gunupur. [b,c,d]
  6. Balangir, the district HQ of Balangir district will now be 309 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 397 kms. [a]
  7. Nawapara Rd, near the district HQ of Nawapara district will now be 459 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 547 kms. [a]
  8. Rayagada, the district HQ of Rayagada district will now be 419 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 502 kms. [c,d]
  9. Koraput, the district HQ of Koraput district will now be 573 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 676 kms. [c,d]
  10. Titlagarh, a major junction will now be 373 kms from Bhubaneswar instead of the earlier 461 kms. [a]

Thus these four lines will connect 5 new district HQs to the broad gauge railways and will significantly reduce the distance between 4 other district HQs and the state capital. That is 8 district HQs would be within half-a-day intercity distance away from the state capital and the 9th one (Koraput) will be within a overnight ride from the state capital. Thus intercity trains between (i) Bhuabneswar and Nawapara Rd (ii) Bhubaneswar and Bhawanipatna and (iii) Bhubaneswar and Rayagada will completely change the psychology of people in districts such as Kalahandi, Rayagada and Nawapara and feel them more connected with the rest of the state. (Currently 2893 leaves Bhubaneswar at 5:45 AM and reaches Balangir at 1:20 PM. Within the same time, with the shortened route it can easily go up to Titlagarh junction and with a little speed up this train will be able to go up to Bhawanipatna or Nawapara Rd.) Similarly a shorter overnight train between Jeypore and Bhubaneswar will make people in Koraput district feel much closer to the rest of the state. (Currently 8448 leaves Koraput at 6:25 PM and reaches Bhubaneswar at 8:30 AM next morning. With a shorter route a train can leave Koraput at 8:30 PM and make it to Bhubaneswar by 8:30 AM next morning.)

Two further extensions of Junagarh-Nawarangpur and Jeypore-Malkangiri will bring two other KBK district HQs to be connected to the broad gauge railways.

Following explains the calculations [orissalinks] :

  1. Parlakhemundi-Naupada Rd is 40 kms and Naupada Rd to Bhubaneswar is 265 kms.
  2. Sonepur to Khurda Rd is 240 kms and Khurda Rd to Bhubaneswar is 19 kms.
  3. Boudha to Khurda Rd is 198 kms and Khurda Rd to Bhubaneswar is 19 kms.
  4. Nayagarh to Khurda Rd is 65 kms and Khurda Rd to Bhubaneswar is 19 kms.
  5. Bhawanipatna to Lanjiharh Rd is 30 kms, Lanjigarh Rd to Titlagarh is 47 kms, Titlagarh to Balangir is 64 kms, Balangir to Khurda Rd is 290 kms and Khurda Rd to Bhubaneswar is 19 kms. Lanjigarh Rd to Theruvali is 74 kms, Theruvali to Gunupur is estimated to be 45 kms, Gunupur to Naupada rd is 90 kms, and Naupada Rd to Bhubaneswar is 265 kms.
  6. Balangir to Khurda Rd is 290 kms and Khurda Rd to Bhubaneswar is 19 kms. Balangir to Sambalpur is 118 kms, Sambalpur to Talcher Rd is 169 kms, Talcher Thermal to Barang is 94 kms and Barang to Bhubaneswar is 16 kms.
  7. Nawapara Rd to Titlagarh is 86 kms and Titlagarh to Balangir is 64 kms.
  8. Rayagada to Theruvali is 19 kms, Theruvali to Naupada Rd is estimated to be 135 kms and Naupada Rd to Bhubaneswar is 265 kms. Rayagad to Vijainagaram is 124 kms and Vijainagaram to Bhubaneswar is 378 kms.
  9. Koraput to Rayagada is 174 kms.
  10. Titlagarh to Balangir is 64 kms.