RP TripathyThe Railway Budget 2009-10 has thoroughly disappointed the people of South Orissa in general and Berhampur in particular. Except the assurance to process the new rail connectivity proposal between Berhampur-Sambalpur, there is no other proposal worth mentioning for the region. As far as introduction of new trains, raising frequencies of existing trains and extension of services are concerned; the region has been completely ignored. There is only one new train between Koraput-Rourkela proposed for the region in the Railway Budget. Funds have been sanctioned for three Railway over bridges in Berhampur at Haldiapadar, Gopalpur Junction and Jagannathpur railway crossings. Further, the new super-fast train introduced between Howarh-Bangalore may pass through Berhampur railway station. While the Bhubaneswar and Puri railway stations have been proposed to be converted to world-class stations and Cuttack in to a modern station, Berhampur railway station finds no mention in the Budget document. Rs 14 crore has been allocated for gauge conversion work in the Naupada-Gunupur line with Rs 6 crore still needed to complete the project. There is an outlay of Rs 35 lakh for Jagannathpur station on the outskirts of Berhampur, Rs 3 crore for water supply project of Berhampur railway station, Rs 32 lakh for replacement of platform cover in Berhampur railway station and Rs 1 crore for Koraput-Rayagada railway line. Of the total outlay of 912 crores for Orissa, Berhampur and South Orissa put together have been allocated a paltry sum of close to 40 crores.
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