Railway Budget 2018-19 is a Disappointment for Odisha: BJD

ONI Bureau: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has termed the Railway Budget provisions for Odisha a huge disappointment, calling the division of allocation as a number game.

“While funds are being allocated on several projects in the last few years, the Railways are not reviewing the progress and there is no transparency on the total amount spent on each project,” alleged BJD.

“This railway budget has ignored Odisha Government’s demands for several new rail lines, including Berhampur-Sambalpur, Puri-Konark, Bargarh-Nuapada, Talcher-Gopalpur, Bhadrachalam-Bimlagarh, Paadip-Dhamra etc. Even as Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had promised a new railway line for Nuapada-Bargarh-Bijepur to seek electoral mileage, the railway budget had no mention of it,” the BJD leaders said.

“The BJP leaders claim Odisha has received more funds in railway budget this year. But, this is just an eyewash. 58% of the funds allocated last year, have been unspent. By adding that unspent amount, they now claim that Odisha has been given Rs 5,252 crore. This is laughable,” said the BJD.

BJD Spokesperson Pratap Deb wondered how the Ministry of Railways is giving misleading info. “On his Twitter handle, the Railway Minister claims 4,750 km railway lines are being laid in Odisha. However, the website of Railways puts the figure at 2,936 km.
Who is telling the truth? Where is the missing 1,814 km railway lines? Do people of Odisha need to file FIR to find those,” he sarcastically asked.

“The Railway Budget 2018-19 for Odisha is just an old wine in a new battle”, said Pratap Deb.