Railway Budget 2011-12 disappoints people of Berhampur

State Government and Berhampur MP fail to take up long standing  demands of Berhampur effectively

The Railway Budget has left the people of Berhampur highly disappointed as none of the longstanding demands of the city has been taken up by the Union railway minister. State Government’s demand for extension of the Eastern dedicated freight corridor upto Berhampur has also been ignored. Though the much needed trains from Berhampur to New Delhi, Surat, Rourkela and Paralakhemundi has not been announced, the city has however got some new trains that will pass through it. While funds have been made available for the 4th platform and expansion of existing platforms of Berhampur railway station, the demand for a coaching terminal complex has been overlooked. Provisions have been made in the railway budget for three railway over-bridges at Gopalpur junction, Jagannathpur and Golanthara on the outskirts of the city.

The announcements are far below the expectations of the people of Berhampur. However, the Railway Minister’s assurance to start the socially desirable projects like Berhampur-Sambalpur, Gunupur-Therubali and Berhampur-Phulbani during the 12th Five Year Plan remains to be seen.

General public, student leaders and intellectuals have criticised the negligence of Berhampur in this years railway budget and have questioned the sincerity and commitment of the state government and Berhampur and Aska MPs for their failure in effectively raising the demands of the city and South Orissa before the central government.

New trains proposed in the Railway Budget that will pass through Berhampur
• Dibrugarh- Thiruvanthapuram-Kanniyakumari Vivek Express (weekly)
• Howrah-Mangalore Vivek Express (Weekly)
• Howrah-Secunderabad Express(weekly) via Kharagpur
• Howrah – Tirupati Express (weekly)
• Digha-Visakhapatnam Express(weekly)
• Howrah-Visakhapatnam Express(weekly)
• Kharagpur-Viluppuram Express (weekly) via Vellore

Photo Source: www.gavaskee.com