Title - Naveen Patnaik faults centre for reducing budgetary allocation to railway projects in Odisha

Odisha Chief Minsiter faults Naveen Patnaik faults centre for reducing budgetary allocation to railway projects in Odisha. In a letter to Railway Minister Mukul Roy he demanded restoration of the allocation made for the year 2012-13.CM Patnaik said that, "I understand that the Indian Railways have reduced an amount of Rs.186 crore from the budgetary allocation to different projects in Odisha. This is a gross injustice to the interest of Odisha. The State of Odisha, which earned revenues to the extent of Rs.75O crore for the Indian Railways in the last financial year, had projected a total demand of Rs.2345 crore for different projects for 2012-13. Against this, we received a very small budgetary allocation of RS.723 crore as per the Railway Budget announced on 14.3.2012. Now suddenly again the Railways have announced this reduction which will go against the interests of Odisha."He further added that, "Odisha is now in the midst of a strong industrialization proqrarnrne and a number of industries and ports are in the pipe line" Railway projects were accordingly planned to cater to the increasing demand of industry, trade and commerce of the State.  Reduction in the budgetary allocation would greatly hamper the  industrialization process in the State. This would also hurt the common man in so far as creation of passenger amenities at various Railway stations is concerned."

Patnaik strongly protest against this step-motherly attitude of the Railways to Odisha and requested the minister Roy to take immediate steps to restore the budgetary allocation made for 2012-13.