Centre allocates Rs.5252 Crores for Odisha Railway Projects

Bhubaneswar, Feb 07: The Centre has allocated Rs 5,252 crore in the Union Budget 2018 for different railway projects in the state. It is the highest ever budgetary allocation to the state till date. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had demanded Rs 6,500 crore from the Centre this year for the development of railway infrastructure in the state.

The Railway ministry said that 36 projects costing Rs 43,751 crore for 4,750 km in length are already under execution in Odisha.

Last year, the Union government had allocated Rs 5,102 crore for railway sector of Odisha against the state demand of Rs 5,870 crore. The state government had appreciated the budget allocation last year.

In 2015-16, the state had received Rs 3,712 crore against its demand for Rs 3,200 crore. In 2016-17, the state had received Rs 4,682 crore against its demand for Rs 5,000 crore.

State commerce and transport minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu dubbed the budget allocation disappointing. "We had demanded Rs 6,500 crore for the development of railway sector in Odisha, but the Centre has allocated Rs 5,252 crores. It is only 2.5 percent rise than the last year's allocation," he added.

Sahu said the railway ministry does not provide a full grant. "Last year it had allocated Rs 5,102 crores, but Odisha got only Rs 3000 crore," he added.