Title - ECoR budget slashed by Rs166 cr in five months

The Ministry of Railways has curtailed Rs166 crore the budget of the East Coast Railways (ECoR) within last five months, which cast has shadow on the fate of a host of projects undertaken in the State. In November 29 last, the railway budget of the ECoR was slashed by Rs60 crore, effecting the curtailment for the third time in a row within five months. Prior to this, the Ministry had curtailed Rs 6 crore in September and Rs100 crore in July.

The Ministry has deducted Rs 17 crore each from two new lines, including Talcher-Bimalagarh and Khurda-Balangir in two different installments, while Sambalpur-Talcher railway line doubling project lost Rs34 crore during the last five months.  The Ministry made re-appropriation of funds for all zones in November 29 last. Notably, no fund was allotted to two zones-ECoR and WCR.

Meanwhile, the Railway Convention Committee (RCC) fixed the target date for completion of Khurda Road-Begunia and first phase of Khurda Road –Bolangir project by March 31 next. Sources said Rs 32.6 crore out of Rs 38 crore has been spent till November 30 for the project.

The State Congress had justified the last two curtailments in the budget citing financial crisis of the Indian Railways. But this time, while more funds have been allotted to projects of other States, Odisha projects have got a raw deal.

According to sources, most projects in Odisha are being undertaken by the Rail Vikash Nigam Limited (RVNL), but it is unable to do much headway in the projects.

In Sambapur-Titlagarh and Titlagarh-Raipur projects, the RVNL failed to spend a single penny.