Berhampur: Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, the MP from Berhampur, has thanked chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi as the railways recently sanctioned Rs 6.25 crore for the final location survey and for preparing the detailed project report of Gopalpur-Rayagada new railway project. A long-standing demand of the MP and several social organisations of southern Odisha, the proposed 250-km-long railway line aims to connect the port town of Gopalpur in Ganjam district with Rayagada district‘s industrial town. “The proposed line is not merely a link between two towns in southern Odisha, but it will also lead to the development of the state’s mineral rich areas. I thank the CM for taking up the matter with railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently. I also thank PM Narendra Modi and Vaishnaw for sanctioning the funds,” Panigrahy said on Sunday.
In 2009, railways had conducted the feasibility survey of the proposed line at a cost of Rs 4 crore.
“The inflow of tourists from other parts of the country and abroad to Gopalpur will also increase once the rail route starts functioning. The proposed line will also boost the financial condition of locals, while accelerating business activities in both Rayagada and Ganjam districts,” Panigrahy added.
Last year, several social organisations in southern Odisha districts under the banner of Milta Kriya Anusthan Committee had sat on a protest for days for development of rail infrastructure and construction of new railway lines, including the Gopalpur-Rayagada project. The agitation was called off after they discussed the matter with the CM, who assured them of looking after their demands.
The railway ministry has also sanctioned Rs 330 crore for preparing the detailed project report for doubling of the 165-km-long Naupada-Gunupur-Therubali railway line.
“We hope the ministry will expedite its work for preparation of the reports and sanction more funds for execution of the projects,” Bal Krushna Panda, a former bureaucrat and leader of the Kriya Anustahan Committee, said.