By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/KENDRAPARA: The former Union Minister Srikant Jena, who has turn a fugitive , now seems emerged from his hideout to fool the people of Kendrapara, those who voted to Jena to power in 1996-97 for 17 months as Janata Dal nominee.Srikant better known as ‘Chakrant Jena’ now advocating for late Biju Patnaik when the issue of Railway connection to Kendrapara are at final stage, sources said.
“With Srikant Jena finding no takers, he started fooling people of Kendrapara, this time in the name of legendary statesman late Biju Babu. This Chakrant Jena conspired against Biju Babu, for which Odisha lost a Prime Minister post way back in 1996-97 now Srikant playing Biju card in Kendrapara,” a Kendrapara veteran said adding ‘Biju Babu’ was real ‘Swabhiman’ of Kendrapara. “People of Kendrapara should not respond to Srikant Jena as Railway project was possible due to coordinated work of Odisha Government and Union Railways Ministry,” he added.
Take a close look at the statement of Jena, the former Union Minister said, the project started way back in 1996-97 when Ram Vilash Pawan was Union Railway Minister and HD Devegowda as Prime Minister and he again, told that, survey was started much before in 91-96 when he was Cuttack MP.
Again Jena said, at a Cabinet meeting, it was decide that Bhubaneswar would house a Railway zone and proposal for Sukinda-Talcher and Paradip—Haridaspur railway project also got Cabinet nod as Jena said.
Jena said after inauguration of East Coast Railways headquarters in Bhubaneswar, he along with then Chief Minister late JB Patnaik and then Railways Minister Paswan travelled to Talcher to inaugurate Sukinda-Talcher line.
But Jena said, due to shortage of time, project works for Paradip-Haridaspur railway line not inaugurated. It is pertinent to mention that, Kendrapara is much nearer to Bhubaneswar and why Jena and others moved to Talcher first instead doing the inauguration in Kendrapara.
Jena further said when Pravat Samantray was Kendrapara MP , it was inaugurated by then Railways Minister Nitish Kumar in 1999. Since 1996-97 till date, Railways spent around Rs 2600 crore for the 82 km long track. Sukinda-Talcher(rate of return 26% ,) and Paradip-Haridaspur(rate of return 18%).
Sources said, it was true, since 1996-97 to 2009 , there was no progress made while land acquisition was a major hurdle but since then both Odisha Government and Railways Ministry worked jointly and make this project a reality.
