By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: A review meeting on the progress of railway projects was held today at the Sambalpur Railway Division’s ‘Divisional Meeting’ in the presence of Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan in the presence of Lok Sabha MPs from western Odisha and neighboring Chhattisgarh. MPs from Kalahandi, Balangir, Bargarh and Chhattisgarh participated in the meeting and discussed important issues for the development of the region.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Shri Pradhan said that the meeting discussed in detail the current status of the much-awaited Khordha Road-Balangir, Talcher-Bimlagarh, Jarpada-Sambalpur and Ikashmir-Jharsuguda third and fourth line works in Odisha. Discussions have been held to complete these projects within the stipulated time. Priority has been given to expedite the work of Bargarh-Nuapada, Jharsuguda-Barkot and MCL railway line projects. Demands and plans have been emphasized to run more frequent Bharat Express trains from western Odisha to Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Ranchi and other states. Discussions have also been held to take forward the renovation and modernization work of Sambalpur and other railway stations under the ‘Amrit Station’ scheme to improve passenger services.
Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwani Baishnab, the railway sector of Odisha is being given special priority. Due to good coordination between the Centre and the State, projects that were stalled for many years are now getting momentum. Today’s meeting is expected to further strengthen the role of Railways in the economic and social development of Western Odisha.
