Following is tathya.in’s take on this.

Finally it is Lalu Prasad Yadav giving waking up call to the sleeping states.

The Union Railways Minister him self has announced that he will present an “unprecedented and astonishing” rail budget for 2008-09.

He on 25 September said at Motihari, while addressing a gathering.

“The thrust will be on further expanding the network in the country”, said he.

So he has in fact drawn the attention of the Chief Ministers of the various states having poor railways infrastructure to rise to the occasion and grab the opportunity offered by the Ministry of Railways.

Never in the past, the Minister of Railways announced before hand that the forthcoming budget will be “unprecedented”.

Reading his mind an insider in the Railway Board said that Mr.Prasad is in a mood to dole out large chunk of investments to the less developed states.

Obviously Orissa has a big chance to grab the opportunity, said he.

So without wasting time the state should take a cue from the hints given by Mr.Prasad, said the insider.

And fortunately the Railway Board Chairman K C Jena belongs to Orissa.

In this scenario asking for an “unprecedented amount of investment for the state will be justified”, said the source.

“If any body has a close look at the demands of Orissa, it hovered around Rs.600 crore per annum.

“With this amount of investment in railway sector, the state will have to wait for another three decades to come up to a level”, said he.

In a realistic assessment the state needs investment at least Rs.3000 crores per annum for at least 10 years to connect its hinter land with the main areas”, revealed an expert in railways.

“Will the chief Minister take a note of the hint given by Mr.Prasad and demand accordingly”, said he.

Now it is time for the all party assembly committee on railways to demand more for the rail projects, which needs immediate funding.

And the list is unending as because the investment level has remained at an abysmally low level because of the laid back attitude of the state government coupled with the callous mentality of the Centre.