Posts filed under ‘Rail Wagon Factory, Kalahandi’

A railway maintenance workshop to come up at Narla, Kalahandi

Following is a TOI report:

BHUBANESWAR: The provision of setting up a railway maintenance workshop at Narla in Kalahandi in the Railway Budget evoked mixed reactions here. While some sections of people said a wagon factory would have generated more employment, others expressed satisfaction at the railway ministry’s decision.

The Kalahandi Swabhiman Jagaran Sangha, an outfit which has been pressing for a wagon factory, felt disappointed at the decision to set up a maintenance workshop instead. President of the outfit Badri Narayan Patnaik said they would again press for a wagon factory. “We will again move the railway ministry through Kalahandi MP Bhakta Das to demand a wagon factory,” he said.

In 2010, then Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee proposed a wagon factory to be set up in Odisha. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had recommended Ganjam for the factory. The railway ministry subsequently decided to set up the wagon factory at Ganjam.

“Kalahandi, which is considerably more backward than Ganjam, deserves a wagon factory,” said Patnaik. Earlier, the Narla Rail Wagon Nirman Sangram Samiti in Kalahandi had also demanded a wagon factory to be set up at Narla.

“We are happy that Kalahandi found a mention in the budget but we would have been doubly happy had the wagon factory been set up here,” said Congress state coordinator of schedule caste cell Debi Prasad Sindoor. He, however, attacked Naveen for delaying the land identification process, which is why, according to him, the wagon factory went to Ganjam. Narla has enough land for a wagon factory, he said. Kalahandi MP Bhakta Das had also accused Naveen of showing apathy towards identifying the land at Narla.

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March 14, 2013 at 10:22 am Leave a comment

Odisha govt. offers land to set up a wagon factory in Kalahandi

Following is a PTI report:

Odisha government today offered to provide land for establishment of a railway wagon factory in tribal dominated Kalahandi district, official sources said. Indian Railway, which had already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for establishment of the first wagon factory at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district during 2012-13 fiscal, had also indicated that it would not hesitate to construct another such project if the state government provides land.

“Responding to the Indian Railways, the state government had already identified land to set up the second wagon factory in Kalahandi district,” the official said. A railway wagon factory in the undeveloped and tribal dominated district like Kalahandi, would certainly help boost the economic condition of the local people. The state government would provide all assistance for establishment of the wagon factory in Kalahandi, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said.

July 24, 2012 at 8:38 pm 1 comment

Bhakta sets deadline for rail wagon factory

Following report is from the Sambada:

 

April 23, 2012 at 2:22 am Leave a comment

Kalahandi jagaran manch demand rail wagon factory and medical college

Following is a report from the Sambad:

April 19, 2012 at 2:47 am Leave a comment

Politics over railway wagon factory

Following report is from the Samaja:

April 10, 2012 at 1:35 pm Leave a comment

Odisha CM seeks railway package: western Odisha neglected again

This is a good step by the government. However, CM has neglected western Odisha again. Following things should be demanded for the betterment of western Odisha:

  • · Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Rourkela should be upgraded to World Class railway station status
  • · Completion of Khurdha-Balangir railway line
  • · Connect Bhawanipatna-BBSR by rail
  • · Bargarh-Nuapada (via Padampur) railway line
  • · Connect Harishankar and Narsinghnath via rail line

State demands 12 new trains in railway budget

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has demanded 12 new trains in the 2012-13 Railway Budget.

The new trains are, Bhubaneswar-Mumbai/Pune, Puri-Jeypore/Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar-Bangalore, Puri/Bhubaneswar-Surat (all Duronto express), Rourkela-New Delhi, Keonjhar-Howrah, Barbil-Visakhapatnam via Keonjhar andBhubaneswar, Titlagarh-Bhubaneswar via Rayagada, Bhubaneswar-Shiridi daily express, passenger train service between Barbil-Puri and passenger service between Bhawanipatna-Bhubaneswar via Sambalpur.

 In a letter to Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also demanded increase of frequency of several trains following persistent demand from the travelling public. The trains are, Bhubaneswar-Kurla-Lokamanya Tilak express, Puri-Ahmedabad express via Sambapur, Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani express, Puri-Patna Baidyanath express and Puri-Guwahati express.

 CuttackandBhubaneswarare being developed as twin cities and as per the comprehensive development plan prepared by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, the combined population will be 2.7 million by 2021.

 Stating that this will necessitate a mass rapid transit system (MRTS), Naveen said that this was the appropriate time to commence detailed planning for rail based city transport system in greaterBhubaneswarregion.

  Stating that the operationalisation of East Coast Railway (ECoR) has brought railway management closer to the people and problems of Odisha, the Chief Minister demanded extension of its jurisdiction to include Banspani-Padapahar section, Bhadrak-Laxmannath section inKhurda Roaddivision and Jharsuguda-Barasuan-Kiriburu, Rourkela-Nuagaon and Jharsuguda-Himagiri sections in Sambalpur division. Besides, appropriate functional reorganisation of ECoR will necessitate the creation of a new railway division atJajpur-Keonjhar Road, he said.

  The Chief Minister has demanded that the doubling work of Rayagada-Koraput and Kottavalsa-Kirandul broad gauge rail link should be sanctioned. He also said that the doubling work of Khurda Road-Puri link (phase-II), Raj Athgarh-Barang andBarang-Khurda Roadthird line should be expedited. These projects should be commissioned in 2012-13 with provision of enhanced budget, he said.

 He demanded the electrification of Talcher-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda, Sambalpur-Titlagarh and Koraput-Rayagada railway lines should be sanctioned. He requested that execution of world class station atBhubaneswarand Puri should be expedited. Railway stations at important district centres and major tourist destinations need special attention to provide multi-functional complexes and upgraded passenger amenities, he said.

 The Chief Minister also sought introduction of DMU services in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela and Berhampur-Balasore corridors. He said that a new train service from Puri to Pune and Mumbai via Sambalpur and Titlagarh has become essential.

 Advocating for a self-sustainable and workable PPP initiatives in the coal and iron ore sectors, the Chief Minister has requested formulation of a suitable policy for attracting private investment in the development of dedicated rail corridors.

CM seeks Rs 2,345-cr rly package

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for provision of Rs  2,345-crore package in the 2012-13 Railway Budget for the development of railways in the State.

Patnaik, in a letter to the Prime Minister, has given a long list of proposals on development of railways in the State which had been neglected by successive Union Governments. He urged the Prime Minister to ask the Railways Minster to take necessary steps for allocating required funds for new as well as ongoing projects. Besides, he urged the Prime Minister to advise Ministry of Railways for strengthening of railway infrastructure in Odisha.

In his proposal, Patnaik has indicated some new lines, doubling of tracks, electrification, gauge conversion and passenger amenities.

Patnaik in his proposal has urged the Prime Minister to provide railway connectivity to all the ports within definite timeframe, besides declaring at least three railway projects with the status of National Projects and to convert theBhubaneswarand Puri railway station to world class stations.

Stating that Odisha continues to be one of the most preferred destinations for investment, especially in metal, mining and power sectors, he said the State Government was leveraging this opportunity to plan orderly, systematic and comprehensive economic growth by focusing upon infrastructure development and creating dedicated industrial corridors. The nature of industrial activities in the State requires a robust and well-planned railway infrastructure for its sustainability, Patnaik pointed out.

He said the Central Government had initiated many ambitious projects like dedicated freight corridor aligned with mega industrial hubs, national road express ways and high- speed train projects. But those projects appear to have completely bypassed Odisha although some of the country’s largest investments in the steel, aluminium and power sectors are coming up here.

Referring to the railway lines, he said the railway route length and rail density in Odisha was well below national average as also substantially lower than that in neighboring States. In his proposal, Patnaik requested the Ministry of Railways to put in place a time-bund infrastructure upgradation arrangement for the ports coming up on the Odisha coast. “A synchronised development plan between that of the ports and related rail connectivity is necessary for maximizing economic gains, he said. In this context, Patnaik said the eastern dedicated freight corridor fromLudhianato Dankuni should be extended to Brahmapur so as to ensure seamless movement of freight between the ports and the northern and central hinterlands of the country.

He proposed for construction of Bharachaam Road-Talcher rail link via Malkangiri, Jeypur, Lanjigarh, Sambalpur-Brahmapur new rail link via Phulbani and Rayagada-Gopalpur rail link via Bhismagiri.

Pointing out that survey for these lines have been sanctioned, he urged the Prime Minister to advise the Ministry of Railways to execute the projects on priority basis, treating these projects  as “National Projects”.

He also urged Singh to expedite execution of a World Class Station atBhubaneswarand holy pilgrimage town ofPuri. Similarly, the railway stations at important district centres and major tourist destinations need special attention to provide “multi-functional complexes” and upgraded passenger amenities. Besides, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region which is planned as a mega urban complex also needs to have a rail-based urban transport system, he said.

December 31, 2011 at 8:48 am 10 comments

Western Odisha not priority for CM: Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD)

Following report is from The Pioneer:

Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) secretary general Baidyanath Mishra on Wednesday targeted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as being Bhubaneswar-centric and not at all caring for western Odisha. He said that wester Odisha was not a priority for the CM.

Mishra told reporters here that the progress of work on the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) at Rourkela is still sluggish even eight long years after its foundation. A couple of months back, local MLA and Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak had promised for commencement of the BPUT construction work, but it has been stopped without rhyme or reason, Mishra said.

The BPUT, which is managing more than 150 professional colleges, only has a makeshift office at the UGIE that has become a dumping yard of sacks and trunks of examination paper. The vice-chancellor and a finance officer, along with some junior executives, are running the show.

The university land in the Chhend area is gradually encroached upon by unauthorised persons as there is none to protect the land, Mishra pointed out.

So, he said, an early review of the BPUT’s progress by the Chief Minister is required so that appropriate steps are taken before its head office is finally shifted to Bhubaneswar much to “the delight of a Bhubaneswar-centric Chief Minister,” Mishra said.

On the Western Odisha Development Council; (WODC)-sponsored medical college and hospital, he urged the Government to take steps for getting the Medical Council of India’s (MCI) nod to a hi-tech medical college at Rourkela so that local aspirant students can take admission in MBBS and BDS courses. He also urged the Government to spell out the actual percentage of seat reservation made for the students of western Odisha nativity.

Mishra said Rourkela is deprived of the Commissionerate-II of the Central Excise for the last 14 years. Like the WODC headquarters in Bhubaneswar, some vested interests in the State capital are trying their best to retain this Commissionerate-II office in Bhubaneswar though the July 22, 1997 notification made it clear that the headquarters of the Bhubaneswar-II Commissionerate would be shifted to Rourkela as its jurisdiction is western Odisha.

If these demands are not heeded by the Government, the KKD would have no other option than to launch agitation, he threatened.

Mishra also demanded passenger air line facility for Jharsuguda and Rourkela and an ESIC Medical College in Sundargarh district. He said the State Government should demand another rail coach factory to be set up at Narla, Kalahandi, as promised by former Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee. This was hijacked by Naveen Patnaik elsewhere. Similarly, the Government must take early steps to start a medical college at Balangir at its own initiative.

Mishra said that from July 8 to15 a fact-finding team of the KKD would be touring various parts of western Odisha. Among others, KKD working president Sagar Singh Manki, Rourkela unit president Rama Chandra Amat and founder-member Surama Mishra were present at the news conference.

July 7, 2011 at 6:33 am 1 comment

Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo bats for rail wagon unit at Kantabanji

Following report is from The Pioneer:

Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has demanded setting up the rail wagon manufacturing unit at Kantabanji in the district in view of availability of land and the economic backwardness of the area.

In a letter to Chairman, Railway Board, Vivek Sahai on June 16, Sing Deo has urged him to set up the unit at Kantabanji as land is available there which was donated by late RN Singhdeo during pre-Independence period.

“My grandfather late Maharaja RN Singh Deo had donated his personal land of approximate 400 acres for establishing the railway factory at Kantabanji. Since the land was donated for the purpose of the unit, it should be returned if the purpose is not met,” Singh Deo pointed out.

The land acquisition process is a highly sensitive and time taking exercise. It is also likely that the Railways could fall under criticism for acquisition of more land when it already has substantial land in its possession at Kantabanji for the wagon manufacturing unit, Singh Deo argued.

Moreover, a reply under an RTI application dated April 21, 2010 reveals that a total of 125 acres of vacant land at Kantabanji is currently in the possession of the Railways.

June 18, 2011 at 12:21 pm Leave a comment

Agitation intensifies demanding rail wagon factory in Kalahandi

Following are some recent reports on this issue:

http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowDistrictNews.asp?id=25784

http://www.tathya.in/news/story.asp?sno=5133

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/kalahandi-intensifies-agitation-demanding-rail-wagon-factory/638108.html

http://www.dailypioneer.com/329493/Wagon-unit-Cong-launches-stir-across-Kalahandi.html

http://www.dailypioneer.com/329582/MLA-holds-demo-in-Assembly-premises-for-rail-wagon-factory.html

http://telegraphindia.com/1110406/jsp/orissa/story_13814102.jsp

http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/congress-legislator-stages-dharna/262779.html

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/mla-launches-dharna-demanding-rail-wagon-factory-in-kalahandi/636604.html

April 7, 2011 at 6:06 pm Leave a comment

Move to shift rail wagon factory from Kalahandi sparks resentment among the locals

Following report is from The Pioneer:

Of late, the people of Kalahandi district are an apprehensive lot after getting the information that the proposed rail wagon industry promised by Railway Minister Mamata Banarjee is likely to be shifted from the district to Ganjam.

According to sources, the Railway Minister has assured local MP Bhakta Charan Das to set up rail wagon industry in the district in Parliament but other sources said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, meanwhile, has written a letter to Mamata Banerjee proposing to set up rail wagon industry in Ganjam district.

Kalahandi is one of the country’s most poverty-stricken districts. Huge funds pumped in for development of poor have not yielded fruitful results.

The political leadership as the past is now suspected again to fail to bring the rail wagon factory like the Central University was shifted from Kalahandi to Koraput.

The Chief Minister during his visit to Kalahandi recently was presented with a memorandum by the aggrieved political parties, intellectual forums, different organisations, demanding to recommend the Central Government to set up the proposed rail wagon industry in the district.

However, sources said the Chief Minister has not yet taken any steps on the demand of the locals and this has triggered resentment and a feeling that the district again will be betrayed.

March 28, 2011 at 5:40 pm Leave a comment

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