Subrat Kumar Sarangi
New Delhi (NVI): The long awaited dream project of Haridaspur-Paradip Railway line in Odisha will be operational in 10 to 15 days, said BJP vice-president, Baijayant Panda.
The Haridaspur-Paradip project is not only a dream project for the people of Kendrapara district but also satisfying for Baijaynt Panda. It will now bring Kendrapara on railway map and the railway line will connect the three districts of Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur.
“It is a major project for the coastal Odisha as it will connect three districts – Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur. Personally, it is very satisfying as I have worked hard for the project during my term as MP and after that as well,” said Baijayant Panda in a message shared on social media.
According to the sources, as many as 31 bridges, 174 minor bridges and 9 stations have been constructed on the 82km-long project which has been constructed at an estimated cost of over Rs 2,000 crore.
The main aim of the project is to facilitate movement of freight, export of finished products of steel plants and coal from Paradip to industries. It will also benefit major industries and mining belt from Jajpur and Keonjhar districts using the railway line.
After lot of discussions the project was approved in 1996, after 13 years from the date of approval the project had not materialised and by that time Baijayant Panda became the MP of Kendrapara and it was stocked up for only environmental clearance of 2,000 acres of land including forest land of 4 to 5 acres.
Panda also reviewed the project several times and held discussions with the Railway Ministry too and finally environmental clearance was approved with the support of state government, railway agencies. In addition to this, land acquisition hurdle was also cleared and the work was started in 2013.
Panda also took special initiatives to review the infrastructure project in every quarter and followed up at every level from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar.
Initially, goods trains are likely to roll down the line and subsequently passenger train services will be launched, Panda said.
-RJV
