Mamata assures that the first phase of Khurda Rd-Balangir rail will be finished in March 2011: Dharitri
Balangir, Bouda, Khordha, Khurda Rd - Balangir (under constr.), Orissa MPs, Railway network in Orissa 3 Comments »

Various KBK statistics are known to everyone here as well as to the planning commission. We will not rehash them here. We will just like to point out that various programs in KBK (such as RLTAP) will not work to their potential unless qualified people are willing to be there to implement those programs and unless there are enough local people who are qualified. For example, one can open schools and hospitals and initiate irrigation projects. But if teachers, doctors and engineers do not go there in sufficient numbers to staff the schools, hospitals and irrigation projects they will not achieve their impact. So while we make programs for schools, hospitals and irrigation projects we need to pay attention to the infrastructure aspects that will (a) create enough local teachers, doctors and engineers and (b) will not deter teachers, doctors and engineers to come to this place.
With that in mind we propose that the following be pushed with the central government for implementation in the next 7 years — the remaining part of the 11th plan and the 12th plan starting in 2012. I think the list below is doable. (Much more needs to be aimed for and done through the state government, industries and people in this region; but here we only focus on what one can realistically push with the central government and achieve.)
1. Railway Infrastructure: The Railway infrastructure of the KBK districts need to be drastically improved. In particular there are several approved lines that need to be speeded up. In addition there are some hanging lines that need to be extended and completed. The following shows the current Railway lines in Odisha.
The following picture shows the lines that bring better rail connectivity to the KBK districts. The ones in brown have been approved and we request that they be completed within the next 2-3 years and. We request that the ones in blue are approved and completed within 5 years.

2. Airport at Jeypore: Currently Odisha has one airport with commercial flights. That is in Bhubaneswar. AAI is in the process of making another airport at Jharsuguda. We propose that another airport be built near Jeypore-Koraput with commercial flights in mind (small planes to start with) to serve the KBK area. An airstrip is already there. The following map shows the location and its distance from the other airports in India.
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3. Roads: On roads, we request that the construction of the Vijaywada-Ranchi highway be expedited. More.
4. HRD/Education: The 11th plan has good proposals regarding schools, ITIs and model colleges. But as we said in the beginning of this document, KBK needs to produce its own teachers, doctors and engineers.
As a first step the Odisha government decided to locate the Central University of Odisha in Koraput. However, considering the vast area of KBK, we request the following.
4.1 The 11th plan has provision for having medical colleges and engineering colleges in 5 of the 16 new central universities. (See the page from Volume 3 of 11th plan below.) We request that the one of those medical college and engineering college be established as part of the Central University of Orissa, Koraput.

4.2 A centrally funded engineering college of the kind in Longowal Punjab (SLIET), Kokrajhar Assam and the one being made in Malda (GKCIET): These three centrally funded engineering colleges have rural focus and we request that one such rural focused 3-tier (catering to workers, technicians and engineers) is needed for KBK. We request that it be made in Balangir. In the next page we have cut-outs related to the above mentioned three colleges which show their mission perfectly matches what is needed in the KBK districts.
4.3 Upgradation of Food Craft Institute Balangir to an Institute of Hotel Management.
4.4 Some kind of a centrally funded institute in Kalahandi: One has to be realistic in pursuing something that is achievable; something central government has established in smaller towns in other states; something with similar philosophy as SLIET/GKCIET/CIT-Kokrajhar but in a different field.
4.5 Special funding for proposed state Universities in KBK: The Odisha government higher education task force has recommended new state universities to be made in Jeypore (Koraput), Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi) and Balangir. We request that the central government give a one time 50 crore grant to each of these proposed universities so that they can be started at the earliest.

5. Job Centers:
6. KBK+: In addition in the KBK+ district of Kandhamal a branch of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) can be realistically pursued and achieved.
Final Word: Please make additional suggestions. But be realistic. Also, note that here we are talking about what to pursue with the central government.

Update on May 7 2010: From Dharitri

Update on May 7 2010: From http://www.tathya.in/news/story.asp?sno=4058.
… Ananga Udaya Singh Deo, Minister Planning & Coordination reviewed the progress of the Khurda-Balangir Link Project here on 7 May.
This fact came to the fore during the discussion and insiders feel that unless political pressure will be mounted on the Ministry of Railways (MOR), expecting a fair deal on this project is a far cry.
Poor political weakness makes Odisha Projects vulnerable, pointed out a senior lawmaker.
Project sanctioned in 1994-95 with a cost of Rs.355.38 crore has been revised to Rs.700 crore.
As on today this project needs Rs.1000 crore to be completed, said an expert on Railways.
There are three phases in which the project will be commissioned.
Till date expenditure on the project is only Rs.96.41 crore during last 16 years!
After a lot of hue and cry, MOR has allocated Rs.120 crore in 2010-11.
And officials at the helm feel that if they will be provided funding properly, project will be completed in a short period.
Satyabrat Sahu, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Commerce & Transport (DOCT) briefed the Minister about the progress.
Mr.Sahu, a pro-active mandarin said thrust is being given for fast progress with funds available.
He said construction activities are going on from the side of Khurda, where as Minister wanted also to start construction from Balangir side.
V K Bahmani, Chief Administrative Officer( Construction) East Coast Railways said that as the current year budget provision has been hiked to Rs.120 crore, construction activities is likely to be carried out in 112 kilometre area.
Now work is going on from 0-36 kilometre area and proposal has already been submitted to IRB for 36-112 kilometre area.
It is expected that Rakesh Kumar Chopra, Member Engineering, IRB will be sanctioning in June.
Mr.Singh Deo urged all the Member of Parliament (MP) cutting across party line to march to New Delhi and press for this Coastal-Western Link, which is very vital for the interest of the state.
Following is from an email sent by Mr. Lalit Patnaik on 31st March 2010.
- In last one month ECOR has made tender docs ready for many jobs up to Nayagarh.
TigiriaBegunia to Nayagarh is 58 kms.- From Nayagarh side 20 % land has been acquired.
- Some land from Begunia side has been also acquired. But major chunk of land needs to be acquired by State Govt.
- No information of any work from Bolangir side.
- ECOR is waiting for some administrative sanction from Rail Ministry for that 58 km route length. MP Rudra Narayan Pani has been requested to follow up at Delhi.
Following is an excerpt from dnaindia.com.
… The port may be called the Adani-Kalinga Port.
The group has been nurturing a desire to have a port on the eastern coast in addition to the existing one on the western coast. It will help consolidate this group’s position in the port and shipping business in India.
Moreover, any group that owns major ports on both the western and eastern coasts of India could be expected to play a major role in coastal shipping as well, for ferrying goods from one coast to another, thus reducing costs, time and the incidence of pilferage that plagues road transportation.
… The proposed outlay is around Rs 10,000 crore. According to current plans, this port is to have 16 berths, and will have a capacity of 100 million tonnes —- almost similar to the capacity planned for Mundra.
… The interest of the Adani group has been confirmed by Satyabrat Sahu, transport and commerce secretary of Orissa, who is on record stating, “The Adani Group has given this proposal to set up a port. The state government is examining the proposal.”
… According to senior people in both the Adani group as well as the Orissa government, the process of examination is almost complete, and two of three approvals required have been obtained.
The last one should be in hand in a few days.
Adani officials said the port could be developed in two phases near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, barely three km from Jatadhari Muhan, where Posco India plans to set up its own captive port.
The group plans to invest Rs 5,000 crore in each of the two phases. If all goes well, 12 of the 16 berths should be up and running by 2015-16.
According to current plans, the port will handle coal, iron ore, liquid and containerised cargo. It may be mentioned that the Adani group owns several coal mines in Indonesia. Some of this coal is already being imported into India through the Mundra port.
Similarly, the Adani-Kalinga port could be the entry point for coal imports on the eastern coast as well, to feed many of the power plans that are expected to come up south of the proposed Adani-Kalinga port.
Similarly, since the Adani group has already become India’s largest player in the edible oil market through Adani-Wilmar Ltd, and owns oil plantations in Malaysia, this port could also play a significant part in edible oil imports.
The Adanis have also shown an interest in mining projects.
What is not known at this stage is the amount of land that will be available to the port, since a successful port must have good draft (depth), lots of land for storing goods meant to be shipped, and for evacuation of cargo that arrives at the port and transportation linkages to the hinterland.
… Since the Adani group has offered to the state government that it will be willing to invest in road and railways networks in and around the port, such a move could help in the overall economic growth of the state itself.
Such efforts could be further buttressed by hectic lobbying by both the Posco management and the owners of Dhamra Port (jointly owned by Larsen & Toubro and the Tata Group) for improving rail and road linkages on the eastern coast in India.
As was the case with the Mundra Port, the Adani group also plans to invest in power projects near this port as well.
The Odisha government should propose that Adani fund a new railway line along the proposed highway between Bhubaneswa/Khurda to Paradip and also part of the Khurda-Balangir line. The advantage for Adani will be:
(The above mentioned three segments are shown in brown below.)
This will be a win-win situation in that it will allow both Adani and Odisha government to industrialize the Khurda-Balangir corridor and the interior areas such as Nayagarh, Phulbani and Bouda. Unlike the Railway line via Talcher and Angul and the one via Paradip-Haridaspur-Jakhapura-Keonjhar, the Paradip-Khurda-Balangir path will have less traffic from other entities, including very little passenger traffic, making it faster for Adani to send goods that way. Since the Khurda-Balangir corridor lacks industries the government may find it easier to find land and local support for industries in that corridor. In that case, it can encourage Adani and others to set up some of their planned industries in that corridor.
All of the above assume that the above dnaindia.com report is correct in that Adani aims to import coal and oil through this port and not focus on exporting minerals from Odisha.
| New Lines | 2006- 07 | 2007- 08 | 2008- 09 |
2009- 10 |
2010- 11 | Spent until 2009- 10 | Remai ning |
Total |
|
Khurda- Balangir (289 kms) |
23 | 20 | 32.34 | 28.07 | 120 | 105.8 | 474.2 | 700 Cap |
|
Talcher- Bimlagarh (154 kms) |
10 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 50 | 37.98 | 722.8 | 810.8 Cap |
|
Haridas pur- Paradip (82 kms) |
44 | 20 | 80 | 70 | 101 RVN |
21.9 Cap 171.61 RVN |
299.83 RVN |
21.9 Cap 572.4 RVN |
|
Angul- Sukinda Rd (98.7 kms) |
20 | 60 | 75 | 22.5 RVN |
20.88 Cap 13.5 RVN |
581.62 RVN |
20.88 Cap 617.6 RVN |
|
|
Lanjigarh Rd – Junagarh (56 kms) |
19 | 12 | 35 | 30 | 60 | 169.31 | 0.69 | 170 cap |
|
Daitari – Bansa pani (155 kms) |
155.6 | 20 | 60 | 75 RVN |
367 cap 671.85 RVN |
186.56 RVN |
367 Cap 933.4 RVN |
|
|
Jaleswar- Digha (41 kms) |
Did not exist | Did not exist | 20 (new) | Did not exist | 235.11 | 255.1 Cap | ||
|
with upgrad ation of Rupsa – Buramara (125 kms) |
under progress as an RVNL SPV. | 466.5 RVN | ||||||
|
Gunupur- Theruvali (79 kms) (Naupada – Gunupur 90 kms gauge conver sion is now complete) |
N-G 34 | N-G 25 |
Already surveyed. But listed as a soc. desirable project. Odsiha should push hard for this to be designa ted as a port conn. (to Gopalpur port) project and taken up via RVN SPV. |
Odisha govt. has also indicated to push this as a PPP project. | ||||
| Total allocation on new lines (NL) and gauge conver sion (GC) |
Rupsa – B 15.9 Other – 4.1 Total – 325.6 crores |
Rupsa – B 35 other – 5 Total – 132 crores |
244.34 + 65 = 309.34 | 275.07+ 36.14 = 311.21 |
ECOR NL – 428.7 ECOR GC – 5 SER NL – 20 SER GC – 1 Total = 454.7 |
2004 – 199 crores
|
||
| New Lines | 2006 – 07 | 2007- 08 | 2008- 09 | 2009- 10 | 2010- 11 | Spent until 2009- 10 | Remain ing | Total |
(All numbers above are in Crores of Rupees. Cap means Capital expenditure and RVN means expenditure through Rail Vikas Nigam.)
2006 had a big allocation of 155.6 crores just for Daitari-Bansapani for its completion. With that done, in 2007 Lalu really screwed [pardon my language!] Odisha with respect to the new lines by having a total budget on new lines and gauge conversion of only 132 crores. (There may have been another 20 crores in that budget in the green book.) Things picked up a bit in 2008 and 2009 and finally now, it is at a decent state.
Now we must make sure that by next year there is approval of Buramra-Chakulia and increase in the allocation for all the other projects that are not completed or about to be completed. A sample projected budget (for new lines) that we should aim for the next seven years is as follows.
| This Yr | Remai ning | 2011- 12 | 2012- 13 | 2013- 14 | 2014- 15 | 2015- 16 | 2016- 17 | 2017- 18 | |
| Khurda – Balangir | 120 | 474.2 | 130 | 130 | 140 | 100 Done | Done | Done | Done |
| Talcher – Bimlagarh | 50 | 722.8 | 100 | 120 | 130 | 140 | 150 | 100 Done | Done |
| Haridaspur – Paradip | 101 | 300 | 100 | 100 | 100 Done | Done | Done | Done | Done |
| Angul – Sukinda | 22.5 | 582 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 | 120 | 150 | 50 Done |
| Daitari – Bansapani | 75 | 187 | 75 | 85 | 20 Done | Done | Done | Done | Done |
| Jaleswar – Digha | NEW 20 | 235 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 80 Done | Done | Done |
| Buramara – Chakulia | 0 | 467 | NEW 20 | 50 | 50 | 120 | 120 |
120 Done |
Done |
| Gunupur – Theruvali | 0 | 450 (est) | 0 |
NEW 20 |
50 | 50 | 100 | 120 | 120 Done |
| Other new lines: Puri Konark; Nabrangpur-Jeypore; Nabrangpur-Junagarh; Jeypore – Malkangiri; Malkangiri – Bhadrachal am |
Lanjigarh Junagarh 60 Done |
0 | 0 | NEW1 (1) 20 | NEW2 (1) 40 (2) 20 | NEW3 (1) 40 (2) 30 (3) 20 | NEW4 (1) 60 (2) 60 (3) 40 (4) 20 | NEW5 (1)140 (2)130 (3)120 (4) 90 (5) 20 | |
| Total | 455 | 495 | 595 | 620 | 630 | 650 | 670 | 670 |
Other lines that are mentioned in the 2010-11 budget and to be pursued beyond are: Lanjigarh Rd – Phulbani – Talcher, Berhampur – Phulbani, etc.
Following is an excerpt from an article in Indian Express.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has, gently, turned the heat on absentee Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, asking her for a status report on the Railways in a fortnight.
Forwarding a note by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on an assessment of the problems at Indian Railways and suggestions for a turnaround, Singh’s attempt seems to be two-fold: one, to prod Banerjee to give time to her Ministry and two, to get things moving in the Railways, so crucial to the country’s double-digit growth ambitions. …
Drawing a parallel with China, the Plan panel said that between 1990 and 2007, Indian Railways added only about 960 km while China added 20,000 km. China plans to add another 40,000 km in the next 10 years while India is currently doing around 250-300 km a year. “There can be no doubt that we should aim at adding 1,000 km a year for the next 10-12 years totaling 10,000 km of additional route length,” it said.
I hope Indian Railways figures out a way to add 10,000 kms of additional route length during the next 10 years. That would increase the chances of long languishing projects like the Khurda-Balangir line and the Talcher-Bimlagarh line being completed within that time.
They are:
Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.
Indian Railways has planned major infrastructure facilities like freight nodal points, container park and a coaching complex to cater to the proposed Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region in Paradeep.
… Mr KC Jena chairman of Railway Board said that “Paradeep is poised to emerge as one of the major industrial hubs in Orissa and it is also the site for the proposed PCPIR in the state. A master plan is being prepared for the Paradeep region and according to this plan, the Railways will set up infrastructure facilities like freight nodal points, container park and a coaching complex.”
Mr Jena said that the Railways is also committed to boost connectivity in the Paradeep region which includes the 82 kilometer Paradeep to Haridaspur broad gauge line, being taken up at an investment of INR 577.78 crore. East Coast Railway has acquired 1,146 acres of private land out of the total of 1,653 acres of land required for the project. This project being implemented by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited is scheduled for completion by March 2011.
… On the 290 kilometer Khurda Road to Bolangir project, Mr Jena said that “Work is already in progress for the first 36 kilometer stretch of the project and the fund for the second phase of the project is likely to be sanctioned in this year’s railway budget.” He added that the project had suffered delay due to land acquisition problems and a fast track committee for railway projects formed under the chairmanship of the Orissa Chief Secretary was making efforts to expedite the process of land acquisition.
Mr Jena added that the overall outlay for the various railway projects in Orissa stood at INR 1,049 crore in 2008-09, compared to INR 764 crore in the previous fiscal and the sanctioned figure excludes the projects being implemented by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
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FAX: PMO at 23016857 , 23015603 (Delhi STD code is 11), CMO at 674 2590 833 (home) 674 2535 100 (office) and Planning Commission at 23096699
To:
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Cc: Mr. Naveen Patniak, Chief Minister of Orissa
Cc: Shri Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, Governor of Orissa
Subject: Solving the greater Kandhamala problem – going after the root cause in a war footing
Dear Dr. Singh:
While the civil society in Orissa, the nation and the world is disturbed by the communal violence in Kandhamala, I would urge you to take steps to eradicate the root cause of the violence in Kandhamala and the nearby tribal, hilly, forested, awfully connected, poor and backward districts of Orissa (and its neighboring states). In this regard, please note that the violence did not spread to the major towns and cities of Orissa (such as Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Balasore etc.) that are well connected (by Rail and roads), decently developed and have a civil society.
While the violence involving the murder of Swami Laxmanananda on August 23rd 2008 and the subsequent communal violence that has taken about 40 lives is most deplorable and is in the forefront of the media, please also recall the following events that also took place within the last year in these areas:
Please note that these events happened in places in Orissa (Nayagarh, Malkangiri and Kandhamal) that are badly connected, near or within forests, have a large tribal population, and are among the most backward districts of India. The following map shows these districts are surrounded by large tracts of dense and open forested areas, and partly explains why the naxalites and Maoists are able to make them their base and why it has been difficult to deploy adequate police there in a timely manner.
(NOTE: Phulbani is now called Kandhamala)
(Note: The lines in red are the ones that are needed to bring rail connectivity to the Kandhamala, Nayagarh and Malkangiri districts and criss-cross the big connectivity gap in the heart of Orissa. The crossed segments are already approved but progressing very slowly.)
Sir: As an economist and a world leader you must know that lack of connectivity, lack of development, lack of a civil society, entrenched forest and mountainous areas together with a different population base is a recipe for the sprouting of troubled areas. This is true all across the world; from J& K and North eastern areas of India to caucuses in Asia. While one cannot and should not get rid of the mountains or the people, the problem can be solved by making the areas well connected and bringing development. The Indian government is doing that in J & K and in the northeast; but has mostly forgotten about the similar areas in Orissa, Chhatisgrah, and Andhra Pradesh, which are the favorite bases of the Naxals and Maoists.
Sir: We would like you to pay the same attention to these areas in terms of connectivity, development, and creation of civil societies, as you do to the North east and J & K. In particular we would request that following be done in a war footing during the 11th plan.
(i) The Vijaywada-Ranchi highway that passes through many of these areas be completed.
(ii) Broadband connectivity be brought to these districts with adequate access locations.
(iii) Two Railway lines, parts of which have already been sanctioned by the Railways but are progressing slowly, are completed and made operational. Those lines are:
a. Khurda Rd – Balangir (passes through Nayagarh and Boudh) – This line was sanctioned in 1994-95 is progressing very slowly.
b. Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh) – Malkangiri – Jeypore – Nabarangpur – Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd – passing through Kandhamala – Boudh – Angul – Talcher – Bimlagarh: Several segments of these lines are approved but progressing slowly. Those segments are Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd and Talcher – Bimlagarh. Angul – Talcher is operational.
(iv) With the above lines operational, development should be brought into Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, and KBK districts (including Kalahandi and Malkangiri) through 1-2 Rail factories and public sector units that can use the steel and aluminum and power produced in abundance in Orissa.
(v) Orissa govt. should be encouraged and aided to establish a university in Kandhamala and another in Kalahandi.
(vi) A branch of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University be established in one of these districts.
(vii) Orissa govt. should be encouraged and aided to establish a government medical college and nursing college in Kandhamala or Boudha district.
Sir: In regards to the cost of establishing the Railway lines, please note that as per the calculation in http://kbkrail.orissalinks.com/ Indian Railways is scheduled to make a profit of 2679.72 crores/year from its operations in Orissa. If 1500 crores of this money (the rest may go to Indian Railway’s current plans for Orissa) is put into Orissa, in just 2-3 years the above mentioned lines could be completed.
Sir: We sincerely hope that you will translate the great concern you have shown towards the recent violent events to the above mentioned action items that address the key issues of lack of connectivity and development in these areas and thus provide a long term and real solution.
Sincerely
Appendix:
1. Estimated profit Indian Railways will make from Orissa in 2008-09:
|
Zone in Orissa |
Total Route Kms |
Route kms in Orissa |
Estimated 2008-2009 profit (in crores) |
Orissa’s proportional share of the profit in 2008-2009 |
|
ECOR |
2034.97 crores |
|||
|
SECR |
80.69 crores |
|||
|
SER |
589 |
564.06 crores |
||
|
Total |
|
|
2679.72 crores |
2. One of the earlier planning commissions has noted in 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”.
3. The tribal population percentage of the KBK districts are as follows: Malkangiri 58.36% ST (+19.96% SC), Rayagada 56.04% ST (+14.28% SC), Nabarangpur 55.27% ST (+15.09% SC), Koraput 50.67% ST (+13.41% SC), Nuapada 35.95% ST(+13.09% SC), Kalahandi 28.88% ST (+17.01% SC), Sonepur 22.11% ST (+9.5% SC), Balangir 22.06% ST (+15.39% SC). Two adjacent districts also have high tribal population. They are Kandhamala 51.51% ST (+18.21% SC) and Gajapati 47.88% ST(+8.77% SC).
4. 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%.
5. 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.
Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.
The Indian Railways on Monday finally spelt out its plan of action to bring the Khurda-Bolangir new broad gauge line, which was sanctioned 13 years ago, back on track here.
Addressing a press conference, Chairman of Railway Board Kalyan Coomar Jena said the Orissa government had been approached to provide land required for the 290-kilometre-long stretch Khurda-Bolangir line free of cost.
Moreover, funds available in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) with the State should be diverted to take up earthwork needed for laying the new line, Mr. Jena said.
“If the state government responds positively to our idea, the Khurda-Bolangir project would move much faster,” Mr. Jena said.
… The proposed Khurda-Bolangir line is a vital railway link, which would connect coastal Orissa with the western part. Though people had started demanding the railway link more than two decades ago, it was sanctioned in the year 1994-1995.
The projected cost of the project has now reached Rs. 1,000 crore.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) said 52 per cent of cumulative physical progress had been achieved while work was in progress up to 36 km distance. Till March 2007, only Rs. 67.83 crore had been spent on the project.
The Indian Railways also sought the State government’s cooperation on land acquisition for the Puri-Konark railway link.
Sharing the progress on the proposed world-class railway station at Bhubaneswar, Mr. Jena said the railway was scouting for suitable land for the project.
He said Chinese expertise had been sought to prepare concept of the station, which would require at least 200 acres of land.
Subsequently, an expression of interest would be floated inviting interested firms to execute the project.
A high-level Chinese railway delegation headed by W.U. Wei, Director of Sino-India Railway Co-operation Working Group along with 12 members had visited the city for conducting a survey for developing a world class station here.
Following is an excerpt from a report in Kalinga Times.
… Jena said the gauge conversion of 90 km Naupada-Gunupur would be completed during the current fiscal.
Following is from http://rc.orissa.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/167.doc.
PRESS RELEASE
January 30, 2008
Reg: Submission of Memorandum by the House Committee of OLA to the Hon’ble Minister of Railways on 30.01.2008.
The members of House Committee on Railways under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Speaker, Orissa Legislative Assembly, accompanied by the Members of Parliament submitted a Memorandum to the Hon’ble Union Minister of Railways in his office chamber. In the said meeting, Chairman, Railway Board and other high officials of Ministry of Railways were present.
Orissa is on the threshold of major industrial upsurge and first progressing towards rapid industrialization. The large number of MoUs have been signed with several companies for setting up Steel Plants. Similarly, MoUs have been signed for setting up Alumina Plants and Super Thermal Power Houses. Several ports are also coming up along the Orissa coast. It is expected that additional generation of traffic will be staggering 200 to 250 MTPA by 2016.
In the background of such massive transportation requirement, the rail infrastructure require urgent strengthening and expansion.
Hence, the committee has given a proposal for enhancement of allocation of funds for the six ongoing projects to the tune of Rs.655 crore, for electrification of two Sections for Rs.50 crore, for gauge conversion Rs.125 crore, for doubling Rs.500 crore, altogether totaling to Rs.1330 crore, in the ensuing Railway budget.
- 2 –
Hon’ble Railway Minister gave a patient hearing to the various demands raised by the House Committee and assured to look into the various proposals positively. He further assured that additional funds will be given for the projects in the execution stage for their early completion.
On Puri-Konark project, Hon’ble Minister suggested that if land can be provided by the State Government, the project can immediately be taken up by the Government of India keeping in view the huge tourist potential of the area.
The Committee also requested Hon’ble Minister to sanction nine new railway lines for which survey has already been completed. Hon’ble Minister assured that sanction of viable projects will be processed for approval of Planning Commission. The Committee also put forth demand for introduction of new train services, extension of selected existing services, increasing frequency of popular trains, improving quality of onboard services and amenities at the major Railway stations in the state.
The Hon’ble Minister, Railways directed the Railway officials to examine the proposals given by the House Committee on Railways of OLA.
Various news reports mention some additional details. For example, New Indian Express reports that the committee asked for the following:
Lanjigarh Road-Junagarh- Rs 120 crore, Khurda Road- Balangir-Rs 150 crore, Haridaspur-Paradip-Rs 175 crore, Angul-Dubri- Sukinda Road-Rs 75 crore,Talcher-Bimalagarh-Rs 75 crore, Daitari-Banspani-Rs 60 crore.
Electrification of Kharagpur-Nimpura- Bhubaneswar and Bhubaneswar-Kottavalasa lines-Rs 50 crore, gauge conversion of Rupsa- Bangiriposi and Naupada- Gunupur lines-Rs 50 crore and Rs 75 crore respectively and doubling of Titlagarh- Lanjigarh Road-Rs 500 crore.
The following is from the PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=33421. (Based on this Orissa will fall behind quite a bit: Only 2000kms of new lines
none of the major new lines in Orissa, such as Khurda-Balangir, will get completed during the 11th plan. The states where the freight corridor will run and the states with a lot of narrow gauge lines will surge forward.)
In order to carry additional freight and passenger traffic in future, Railways have on hand 272 track capacity works, which on completion would add 20,852 kilometers to the Broad Gauge system. The estimated throwforward cost of these works is approximately Rs. 55,000 crore.
A substantial amount of traffic moves on the High density routes viz. the ones which connect the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkatta, and the Delhi – Gaulhati route. Railways have already announced construction of two Dedicated Freight Corridors between JNPT-Tughlakabad (1483 kms) and Sonenagar-Ludhiana, (to be later extended to the deep sea
In addition, Railway proposes to augment its track capacity in XI Plan by 15,500 kilometers, including 2000 kilometer of new lines, 3500 kilometers of doubling and 10,000 kilometers of gauge conversion.
The revenue earning freight traffic in the XI Five Year Plan period is expected to increase from 728 million tonnes in 2006-07 to 1100 million tonnes in 2011-12. The corresponding freight output is expected to increase from 475 billion ton kilometers in 2006-07 (prov.) to 707 billion ton kilometers in 2011-12. In order to cater to the projected freight traffic, it is expected that 62000 wagons would be required during the XI Plan. Railways will also require to induct 1800 electric and 1800 diesel locomotives for carrying the projected traffic in the XI plan. In addition to enhance the capacity of the existing diesel and electric locomotive manufacturing units, Railways are also going in for setting up a diesel locomotive factory at Marhowra and electric loco factory at Madhepura which will produce 150 and 120 locos per year respectively.
Since capacity augmentation takes time, Railways have taken immediate steps to enhance the throughput by increasing the carrying capacity of wagons by 6 tonnes on most of the routes and by 8 tonnes on selected routes and also strengthen the track, bridges and allied structures. In addition, 28 heavy mineral routes with over 6900 route kilometers have been further identified for implementation of 25 tonne Axle load. Also on selected routes, double stack containers trains have been permitted to further enhance the throughput per train.
Railways also plan to induct wagons of better design, higher capacity, longer life and low on maintenance.
The passenger traffic in the XI Five Year Plan is expected to increase from 6242 million passengers in 2006-07 (RE) to 8400 million in 2011-12. The correspondence passenger output is expected to increase from 700 billion passenger kilometers to 880 billion passenger kilometers.
In order to cater to this increase in traffic, it is expected that 22500 coaches would be required during the XI Five Year Plan, implying a yearly requirement of 4500 coaches. In order to meet this requirement , the production capacities of the existing units –integral Coach Factory, Prembur and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthanla – are being enhanced to 1500 and 1400 coaches per annum respectively from the present capacity of 1000 coaches per annum each. Further, a new coach factory is also being planned to be set up at Rai Bareily to bridge the shortfall in requirement and production capacities.
Railways have constructed a total of 4084 kilometers of track in the last three years. The details are as under :-
|
Category |
New Lines |
Doubling |
Gauge Conversion |
Total |
|
2004-05 |
150 |
779 |
282 |
1211 |
|
2005-06 |
180 |
744 |
231 |
1155 |
|
2006-07 |
250 |
1082 |
386 |
1718 |
|
Total |
580 |
2605 |
899 |
4084 |
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri R.Velu in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
(This is copied from my site on Railway infrastructure in Orissa.)
Most of Orissa’s rail network ( full-orissa-map, map-east-n- north-orissa, map-south-n-west-orissa) is part of the East Coast railway( map1, map2, time-table), and a small portion is part of the South eastern railway( map, plans) of Indian Railways. For trains across India see the Indian Railways Schedule, and for trains across Orissa see the ECOR schedule. Maps from IRFCA are here. India9.com has a list of stations and trains related to Orissa.
Current railway connectivity and Indian railway websites:
Railway budgets:
New lines, gauge conversions, doublings: [Hindu-April05]
Future Plans:
Rail freight corridor: [TOI-Oct20-05] RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited) : projects, public notices