Agami Odisha demands rail link to Kandhamal

The Pioneer, Fab 4, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar

Demanding completion of all the ongoing Railway Projects in the State and sanction of rail link to Kandhamal district, a dharna-cum-meeting was organised by the Agami Odisha, Swabhiman Odisha Manch, Loksamukha, Focus Orissa and Khurda-Balangir Rail Line Kriyanusthan Committee at the East Coast Railway office here on Tuesday.

A delegation of five members led by working president of the Agami Odisha Er Lalit Mohan Pattnaik submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through Chief Engineer of the ECoR Rail Project. The Chief Engineer assured to take immediately steps to meet their demands.

Their demands included sanction of rail link to Kandhamal and connection of railways between Khurda Road-Balangir, Naupada-Gunupur-Therubali, Lanjigarh Road-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh-Nabrangpur-Jeypore-Malkangiri, Talcher-Bimlagarh, Bangiriposi-Gurumahisasini and Buramara-Chakulia during the 11th plan period. Moreover, they also demanded conversion of the Coach Repair Factory at Mancheswar here to a Coach Manufacturing Factory, sanction of a coach factory in KBK districts, declaration of Rourkela and Rayagada as divisions, all mineral reservoirs in the State should be included in ECOR, establishment of a zonal Railway Hospital here and appointment of supervisors and below workers from the State.

They alleged that backward regions of the country like North Eastern States are receiving special treatment by railway board, whereas the similar backward KBK region is being neglected since decades. The railway infrastructure of the State is substantially low compared to the national average, though the Railway is making huge profits from the State. During last 15 years, more lines were approved to Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal, though these places come under loss making zones.

Former MP Sivaji Pattnaik, CPI Assistant Secretary Asish Kanungo, Bichitra Badajena from Utkal Sammilani, Manoj Jena from the Binoba Seva Pratisthan and Madhu Bai from National Youth Project, along with representatives from all districts raised their voices against the step-motherly attitude of the Railway Board towards the State.

Lalu to gift railway division to home district

Times of India, Feb 1, 2009

PATNA: Railways minister Lalu Prasad is set to gift his home district, Gopalganj in Bihar, a railway division before the next Lok Sabha polls.

After Lalu Prasad's ancestral village Phulwaria is connected with his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi's Salar Kalan village, Lalu now plans to give another rare gift to Bihar by announcing the establishment of a railway division in Thawe at Gopalganj.

"Thawe would have a new railway division," Lalu said Saturday. He was on a visit to his native village Phulwaria and hinted that he would announce the establishment of the division in his last railway budget to be presented later in February.

According to railway officials, Lalu asked senior officials to prepare necessary ground for creation of a new railway division at Thawe in Gopalganj.

Thawe has a railway station at present and is not far from Lalu's birth place Phulwaria and his wife's birthplace Salar Kalan.

Thawe railway division will be part of the East Central Railway zone headquarters at Hajipur in Bihar.

Lalu also announced establishing of a new railway division in Bhagalpur. "Both Thawe and Bhagalpur would be headed by divisional railway managers."

During his five year term as a Railways Minister, Lalu has gifted several projects and dozens of new trains to Bihar. He recently said that the Indian Railways are investing Rs.550 billion (Rs.55,000 crore) in Bihar for execution of various railway projects to usher "a new era of development".

Orissa's KBK: Forgotten by all

Merinews, Feb 1, 2009

Kalahandi Balangir Koraput in Orissa is a backward region in all aspects and need special aid from the Union Government. However, the region is being ignored by all major players for industrial and agricultural developments.

KALAHANDI BALANGIR Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa is a multi-facet backward region due to hilly terrain, tribal population and natural calamities.

Thankfully, KBK region is considered along with special category states by Union Government of India when it comes to irrigation project. However, infrastructure development is the key to the success for such a backward region. Unfortunately, in railway development KBK is being neglected severely and has not yet been considered by Prime Minister of India to give special status along with special category states.
It is clearly evident from struggling ongoing projects since decades in KBK region such as Lanjigarh road – Junagarh and Balangir – Khordha road lines.

In last couple of years, Indian Railway has committed 50,000 crore investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects, whereas Orissa, especially KBK, is being continuously neglected since decades by Indian Railway.

On the other hand, national politicians have often used backwardness of Kalahandi to show case their eagerness towards the poor people in the society though they fail to scrutinise high rate of unemployment among semi-skilled and skilled laborer in the region.

Lanjigarh road is located in the border of Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi. A factory based on engineering in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna will enormously benefit Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri equally, as it is centrally located to all the districts.

Similarly, a new East Coast railway division in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna will help to speed up the railway projects in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri districts many of which are poorly connected by Indian railway.

I urge the government to specially consider railway project in -

KBK region as national project

Accomplish Lanjigarh road – Jungarh line completely in coming financial year
Complete Khordha road – Balangir line in 11th plan
Immediately approve Lanjigarh road – Phulbani – Angul line
Approve Junagarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypur – Malkangiri – Balachandar road line
Approve Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Ampani – Nabarangpur – Jeypur line
Establish a coach factory in Bhawanipatna/Lanjigarh road/Junagarh region
Establish a new East Coast railway division in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna for railway development especially in KBK-Kandhamal-Boudh region.

NRI seeks rail infrastructure in Orissa’s backward region

Thaiindian.com, Jan 31, 2009
January 31st, 2009 - 4:05 pm ICT by IANS - Send to a friend:

Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (IANS) An Oriya NRI based in Lebanon has urged the government to develop railway infrastructure in Orissa’s most backward districts to ensure the economic prosperity of the region.The Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region, known for its economic backwardness, has been neglected by the central government for years, Digambara Patra, an Oriya academic based in Beirut, told IANS in an email.

Patra said he had Friday written letters to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stressing the need for developing a railway network in the region.

“Railway infrastructure development is one of the keys to success and can bring economic prosperity to such a backward region,” Patra, who works as an assistant professor at the department of chemistry in the American University in Beirut, wrote in the email.

“Unfortunately, in railway development, the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput region is being neglected…In the last couple of years, Indian Railways has committed Rs.50,000 crore (Rs.500 billion) investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects, but it has neglected Orissa, especially the KBK areas,” Patra said.

He pointed out that the central government had in the past has established a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) project in Sunabeda, Koraput and an ordinance factory in Balangir and both had increased the employment potential in the regions. But the neighbouring Kalahandi region has not been considered for any major industrial project, Patra said.

He added that “setting up a new East Coast railway division in the region would help speed up railway projects in the impoverished western and southern Orissa, which are poorly connected by railways”.

CM writes to PM, Lalu, demands Rs 1,520 crore rail package

The Pioneer, Jan 18, 2009
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad urging them to take steps for establishing a rail coach factory in the State. Patnaik also mentioned how the State has been a subject of negligence in the hand of the Centre over the years.

Seeking a Rs 1,520-crore package for an overall development of railway network in the coming Railway Budget-2009-10, Patnaik pointed out that the railway route length and rail density in the State was well below the national average as also substantially lower than that in the neighbouring States like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. The package demanded timely completion of the ongoing projects, sanctioning of new lines, undertaking surveys for new projects and improving passenger amenities at stations.

Mentioning how Orissa generated maximum revenue for the Railways, Patnaik said the earning should be spent on expansion and augmentation of rail network here. "Railways should ensure allocation of sizeable part of the revenue generated from Orissa within the State for expanding and augmenting rail network," he stated, adding that efforts should be made in connecting the KBK districts with rail connection. "KBK projects may be categorised as national projects," Patnaik added. It may be noted that railway aims to earn Rs 5,000 crore from Orissa in the coming financial year.

Patnaik also pointed out that the proposed rail coach factory could take advantage of steel and aluminum projects in Orissa. "The plant may be put up in one of the backward districts," he said, adding that establishment of a rail coach factory in backward district could foster the growth socio-economic growth and able to generate a large number of employment. Earlier, the railway authorities had announced two coach factories would be established one each at Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.He also mentioned about the Bhadrachalam Road (Andhra Pradesh)- Malkangiri- Jeypore-Junagarh- Lanjigarh road- Talcher- Bimalagarh, Khurad- Bolangir, Bhumara- Chakula and Banspani- Barbil rail lines.

Patnaik also demanded for doubling works of Daitari- Banspani, Talcher- Sambalpur and Haridaspur- Paradeep, Cuttack- Barang and Rajatgarh- Barang rail link. Patanik also demanded for a Satabdi Express from Puri to Paradip and another express train from Hoawarh/Salimar to Paradeep. "A Jan Shatabdi Express between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela is very much required," Patnaik said, adding that a new train service from Puri to Pune via Sambalpur via Titlagarh has also become essential and Bhubaneswar-Keonjhar express needs to be extended to Jamshedpur via Bansapani. Patnaik also demanded increasing of the frequency of a number of trains.

Orissa asks for a coach factory

Hindu Business Line, Jan 17, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: Seeking establishment of a rail coach factory in the state, Orissa government on Saturday asked the Centre to implement a Rs 1520 crore package for overall development of railway network here, official sources said.

In separate letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway minister Lalu Prasad, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the state remained neglected in terms of railway network.

“Railway route length and rail density in Orissa is well below the national average as also substantially lower than that in neighbouring states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar,'' Patnaik stated in the letters seeking a sizeable allocation in the coming railway budget for the state.

Reminding the Centre that Orissa generated maximum revenue for the railways, Patnaik said the earning should be spent in expansion and augmentation of rail network here. Stating that the proposed rail coach factory could take advantage of steel and alum inium projects in Orissa, Patnaik said that the plant might be considered in one of the backward districts.

“Establishing a rail coach factory in backward district could become the key driver of regional socio-economic growth while generating a large number of employment,'' he said.

It is understood that two such factories were announced at Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. One such unit in Orissa would address regional imbalance, he said. - PTI

Lack of rail network in K’mal may have led to violence

The Pioneer, Jan 16, 2009
Er Lalit Patnaik | Bhubaneswar

For last few months Orissa has been in the news globally but for all wrong reasons. National and international media gave wide coverage to the recent violence in Kandhamal. But there was hardly any report that focussed on the causes that led to such a situation. Interestingly, most of the people missed out the fact that the lack of railways connectivity to this backward region could have been one of the reasons for violence in Kandhamal.

Poor tribals and other deprived sections of Kandhamal have been isolated from mainstream Orissa because of lack of railways connectivity. The district is a hilly region and does not have proper communication with neighbouring cities.

Interestingly, Railways have always played an important role in economic development and rapid social transformation across the globe, as it is a cheap mode to transport. Unfortunately, in a poor and backward State like Orissa, development of rail network has received very less attention of the Union Government ever since Independence. This is one of the main reason for the backwardness of tribals’ and other areas of the State.

The poor railway connectivity continues to keep them backward and deprive them of catching up with the mainstream. Due to lack of connectivity, the tribals cannot intermingle with the outside world and hence, their social transformation failed to take place. Also, their products cannot be transported easily to city markets and they are forced to dispose goods at throwaway prices in the local markets. As a result, traders come to Kandhamal and take away things at very less price.

In Kandhamal, the populations of tribals and SCs are 51.51 per cent and 18.21 per cent, respectively. Therefore, the demand for railway line connecting Lanjigarah, Phulbani and Angul that would bisect Kandhamal region and also the upcoming Khurda-Balangir rail link to serve as a bypass between Bhubaneswar and Koraput region is gaining momentum. People in Kandhamal are eagerly waiting for the proposed rail links. The rate of return (RoR) from this rail link will be more than 14 per cent, which is required by the Railway Board to sanction a new line. The rail link will shorten the distance between the coalmines in Angul district and bauxite mines in Koraput district by more than 100 km.

Aluminum major Nalco at Angul transports coal to its refinery plant in Koraput and brings back alumina to Angul. So, this reduction in distance will also save time in transportation and enhance the rate of return. Other aluminum companies like RSB, Vedanta and Hindalco will follow suit and the new line via Kandhamal will earn more than 20 per cent RoR.

Besides transportation by major industries, other commodities to Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts will also pass through this line via Khurda as it will be shorter by more than 200 km vis-a-vis the existing rail link passing through Andhra Pradesh.

As for a blueprint on railway network expansion in Orissa, Prof Chitta Baral of the US-based Arizona University has done an extensive as well as intensive study on the subject. He has been educating policy makers and public in general on the importance of a good railway network. He has documented the current railway scenario in the State for preparing the blueprint for its expansion. According to him, the country's transport map clearly shows that Orissa has a very low rail density vis-a-vis other States and a majority of this low density region in the State is located in KBK and Kandhamal districts.

The question arises why rail connectivity is important for any region. The Planning Commission addresses this as follows: Railways have always played an important role in economic development and rapid social transformation all over the globe. It is one of the key economic infrastructures. However, it is most unfortunate that in a poor and backward State like Orissa, there is very less development of rail networks due to apathy of the Central Government since Independence. There are as many as seven districts, Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur, which do not have a railway line passing through them. In 1998-99, the density of railway line length per 1,000 sq km of area in Orissa was only 15.03 km as against 42.66 km in West Bengal and an average of 19.11 km in the whole country.

Consistent with the above report, the KBK and Kandhamal districts are among the most backward districts of the country. They are also Maoist-infested, have high tribal populations and lack proper connectivity. In essence, they are another frontier of India like Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. It is very unfortunate. So why the Indian Railways is still apathetic in establishing connectivity to KBK and Kandhamal even after knowing the above facts is difficult to understand. The railway authorities often cite the profitability issue. But if it can lay unprofitable lines in J&K and the North-East and plan to convert gauges of over 12,000 km of loss-making routes, why is it turning a deaf ear to persistent pleas of the people of Orissa for establishing rail links in this backward region?

It is a well-known fact that the Indian Railways is making huge profit from its cargo operations in Orissa.

Civil Society favor K'mal rail

Tathya.in, Bhubaneswar:9/January/2009

Civil Society of Orissa will demand railway connectivity to Kandhamal.

So the members of the Civil Society will stage dharana in front of the Orissa East Coast Railways (ECOR) headquarters here on 3 February.

They will also present a detailed picture of the continuous neglect and step motherly attitude of the Indian Railways to Orissa

It seems that they have lost high hopes pinned on Kalyan Coomar Jena.

People from all walks of life in Orissa were very happy as Mr.Jena took over reins of Indian Railways.

Least said is better about the Chairman of Railway Board, said many members of the Civil Society.

During Jena’s tenure, Bihar got the maximum and Orissa as usual suffered a lot.

There are only cosmetic changes and lollypops for Orissa, lamented they.

So the leading members of the Civil Society are furious with the Indian Railways authorities.

They have decided to vent anger in public in a peaceful way on 3 February here.

Their main demand is to connect Kandhamal with railways network.

People from all walks of life participated in the meeting held here on 7 January and they voiced the demand for new rail line in Kandhamal.

They were unanimous over the issue as they felt that once the connectivity will be there, the problem will eased.

Professor Chitta Baral, leading voice of NROs gave out details how Orissa has been neglected during Lalu Prasad Yadav regime when Mr.Jena is the Chairman of the Board.

Among others Braja Kishore Tripathy, MP, Sibaji Pattnaik, former MP, Dhananda Mishra, Narendra Mishra, Sudarsan Das also raised pertinent issues.

Engineer BC Praharaj, Ajaya Pattnaik, Bimal Mishra,Rajesh Mishra and SN Mishra pointed out the requirement of the state so far railways infrastructure is concerned.

Political personalities including Sura Jena, Biswanath Mohapatra,Tapasi Praharaj, Deba Parija, Bikram Swain vented their ire against the authorities.

Social activists like Tusar ray, Sashiprabha Bindhani, Madhu Bhai, Manoj Jena, Abhaya Singh, Pradipta Pradhan, Dillip Sabat also spoke on the occasion.

More than 70 members of the Civil Society and at least 20 from Kandhamal participated in the brain storming.

ECOR was represented by TK Joshi and Sanjay Mishra.

Civil Society has decided to organize a meeting prior to 3 February in Kandhamal to raise awareness.

It has been decided to publicize a composite document on Rail neglect in Orissa.

The meeting was organized by Agami Odisha, Swabhiman Odisha Munch, Loksamukhya and Focus Orissa.

All Participant organizations almost vowed to make the people of Orissa aware about Railway neglect and fight for the Railway infrastructural development in Orissa.

Er.Lalit Mohan Pattnaik of Agami Orissa coordinated the meeting.

Memo to Central team demands railway linkage to Kandhamal

The Pioneer, Nov 20, 2008
PNS | Bhubaneswar

The Agami Odisha, the Swabhiman Manch and the Lok Sammukhya on Wednesday jointly submitted a memorandum to the Central Ministerial team, led by Sharad Pawer, demanding railway linkage to the tribal Kandhamal district.

On behalf of the organisations, coordinator Lalit Mohan Pattnaik and joint coordinator Bikram Swain said that due to lack of connectivity, the locals cannot intermingle with outside people and hence social transformation of the tribal communities in the district cannot take place. Further, their products could not be transported outside and hence they got less value for their products, which were looted by the outside traders at much less market price, they added.

A rail line connecting Lanjigarh to Phulbani to Angul would bisect Kandhamal and upcoming Khurda-Balangir rail line and it would serve as a bypass link between Bhubaneswar to Koraput zone, they said adding that the rate of return from this railway stretch would be much more than 14 %, which is required by the Railway Board to sanction a new rail line.

House panel to meet Lalu in Nov

The Pioneer, Oct 31, 2008

The House Committee of the State Legislative Assembly on Railway will call on Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on the second week of November and submit a memorandum for development and possible expansion of railway network in the State. A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by the Assembly Speaker Kishore Mohanty on Thursday.

Speaker Mohanty asked the MLAs to submit proposal within a week on the possible development of railway which can be taken up in their constituency. “Later, a final memorandum would be prepared and submitted to the Railway Minister,” said Transport and Commerce Minister Jaynarayan Mishra.

The MLAs criticised the Centre for decrease in allotment of funds for expansion of railway networks. Though the State Government urged the Centre to take up a number of projects, not a single project has been approved. Gopalpur- Raygada, Jajpur- Keonjhar Road- Jajpur town, Sambalpur- Berhampur, Bolangir- Nuapada, Bansapani- Bimalagarha, Lanjigarha- Boudh, Barbil- Bansapani have been neglected in the railway budget.

The doubling of railway lines like Daitari-Bansapani, Haridaspur, Paradeep, Talcher- Samablpur, Smabalpur-Jharsuguda have also been neglected.

KBK situation is still miserable

BHUBANESWAR, Oct 26: Two decades of focused intervention, entailing pumping in crores of rupees, seems to have had little impact on the notoriously backward KBK region (erstwhile undivided Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi districts) according to the Food Security Atlas released by World Food Programme and Institute for Human Development.
"It is surprising that the efforts put into the development of the region have not yielded tangible results," states the report, while dealing with KBK region and noting that widespread malnutrition and mortality levels are a pointer to the dismal situation.
The region is characterised by wastelands, scrublands, low agriculture development, abysmally low literacy levels and high malnutrition levels.
The KBK region accounts for 31 per cent of the total area of the state, but only 20 per cent of the total population indicating low density of population. A huge part of the region is unfit for cultivation and is mostly degraded forests and scrublands. Koraput, for instances, has more than 1,000 sq kms of its area under wastelands.
Low levels of land development in the region have resulted in poor performance on the agricultural front. Despite all talk of wasteland development, the fact is that the region has not benefited from the programme as yet.
Consequent to this is the fact that very small area can be cultivated twice in an agricultural year and the cropping intensity is low. Only 19 per cent of the total area of Rayagada district is under cultivation while it is barely 20 per cent in Malkangiri district, 35 per cent in Koraput, 37 per cent in Bolangir and 41 percent in Kalahandi. The KBK average works out to 35.5 per cent in terms of area under cultivation.
The food grain yield per heactre in KBK region is 590 kg with the yield per hectare in some districts like Nuapada being as low as 221 kg, Bolangir 302 kg and Kalahandi 491 kg said the report.
Less than five per cent of the surveyed tribal population were found to be in a food secure situation in these districts. The proportion of extremely food insecure tribal households that can hardly manage one square meal a day is highest in Rayagada district at almost 12 per cent of the tribal population being unable to get one meal per day for major part of the year. Five of the eight districts in the region have a less than 10 per cent urbanisation level and these districts have a very high proportion of STs, almost twice the proportion of tribes in other parts of the state.
Other parameters too show that KBK is lagging behind the rest of the state. Koraput, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada have a rural female literacy rate of less than 20 per cent. The food insecurity status of the region manifests itself in high mortality and malnourishment. Most of the districts in the region record over 150 child deaths per 1000 live births and over 40 percent of the children are in the moderately underweight category.
Shockingly, the situation prevailing in KBK region is despite special interventions in the form of Area Development for Poverty Termination (ADAPT) in 1988 followed by the Long Term Action Plan ( LTAP) in 1993 and the Revised Long Term Action Plan ( RLTAP) in 1998. Each of these schemes involved expenditure of crores of rupees towards overall improvement of the region, feeding programmes, water harvesting etc.

From Hindu: Maoist activity surpasses militancy in J&K, northeast - news analysis

This is exactly why the central govt. needs to pay special attention towards the development of theses interior frontier of Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

Following is the Hindu article:

Maoist activity surpasses militancy in J&K, northeast news analysis K. Srinivas Reddy

HYDERABAD: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil might want the country to believe that Left-wing extremism is not a big challenge to the internal security of the country, but his Ministry has now ‘unwittingly’ declared statistics which reveal that the Maoist activity had actually surpassed militancy in the north-eastern States and in Jammu and Kashmir in terms of killings of civilians and security forces personnel.

Status paper

The latest status paper on the ‘Internal Security Situation’ discloses that as many as 2,281 civilians and 821 security forces personnel were killed between 2004 and 2008 (up to August 31) due to Maoist activity.

The comparative figures for the same period show that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the killing of 1,883 civilians and 789 security forces personnel. The militancy-related fatalities in the north-east were 1,909 civilians and 361 security forces personnel.

It was none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who cautioned the States — in December 2007 at a conclave on internal security — that Maoist insurgency was the single biggest challenge to security.

Just about two months later, Mr. Patil disagreed with Dr. Singh and said the Left-wing extremism did not pose such a danger to internal security.

Answering a question in the “Devil’s Advocate” programme on CNN-IBN, Mr. Patil argued that there was no need to create a fear psychosis among the people about the Maoist insurgency. Playing on words, the Home Minister pointed out: “If one said 10 States were affected, it would mean 30 per cent of the country. If one went by 130 districts affected, it would mean 25 per cent. But if one took into account the number of police stations, it would give a picture of only three per cent.”

And now the Ministry status paper points out that the Maoist violence has become extremely intense in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

“Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand accounted for 68.07 per cent of the total incidents and 58.56 per cent of total casualties.”

The Ministry puts it on record that the Maoist activity is present in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal.

However, intelligence officials unofficially admit there is widespread consolidation of Maoists across the country.

Coverage in Prerana on visit of Railway Board Chairman to Balangir

Initiative by Lalit Babu for Lanjigarh road - Phulbani-Angul Railway Link

Yesterday in an Action Plan for Khandhamal, I proposed our Rail Line demand for growth of Khandhamal to be included. The rail line should connect Lanjigarah Station to Angul via Phulbani that will almost bisect Khandhamal District. The chairman Dr Bhagaban & Prof Radhamohan appreciated the proposal but there were very few in public who could fully visualise the would be impact of our demand in peace making process.

In the mean time many a reporter and public of Bolangir region have telephoned me and have highly appriciated our proposal about Khandhamal that came out in a local news paper after our meeting at Bolangir. ........................

Yours,
Lalit Mohan Pattnaik

Basudev Jee, Sibaji Babu & Lalit Babuf while boarding the train at Bolangir

Source: Er Lalit Pattnaik

Lalit Babu, Sibaji babu & Basudev Babu in Circuit House Bolangir after the meeting

Source: Er Lalit Pattnaik

MP Basudev Acharee addressing Joint Action Committee, while Sibaji babu is looking on at Bolangir on 5th Oct'08

Source: Er Lalit Pattnaik

Set deadline for Khurda-Balangir rly line: Acharya

The Pioneer, Oct 7, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Balangir

The construction of proposed Khurda-Balangir railway line, which was approved in 1993 at an estimated cost of Rs 383 crore, is still in its infancy, said chairman of Standing Committee of Railway and MP Basudev Acharya while speaking to mediapersons on Sunday.

Once a target date is fixed for the project by the Railway Department, it would ensure regular flow of fund till completion, he said, adding that Rs 64 crore has been allocated for the project in 2007.

He also assured to take necessary steps so that the total allocation of funds for development of Railways in the State can be increased substantially.

Due to absence of repair unit in the State, wagons are being sent to Khargarpur for repair, he said, adding that a wagon repair unit needs to be established in the State.

Accompanied by Left leader Shivaji Patanaik, Acharya talked to the members of the Citizen Committees of Balangir and the Joint Action Committee for Khurdha-Balangir Railway line. Bhavani Shankar Satpathy and Ramesh Prasad Naik were also present.

Roll back rail profit; NROs

Tathya, Aug 15, 2008
Bhubaneswar:15/August/2008

Now every body has coolly forgotten about the Ministry of Railways’s continued apathetic attitude towards Orissa.

From the Chief Minister to the Member of Parliament (MP) used to be raging war against the Centre maintaining cool cool attitude, alleges leading Non Resident Oriyas (NRO).

While the Indian Railway Board Chairman is working overtime for the projects in Bihar to be completed in time, the officials are boasting for a whopping Rs.52, 000 crore investment in Bihar by 2011!!!

Media reports say that all the railway projects in Bihar stipulating an investment of Rs 52,000 crore, would be completed by 2011, Girish Bhatnagar, General Manager of East Central Railway (ECR) said recently.

The wheel and axle plant at Chapra, in the parliamentary constituency of Railway minister Lalu Prasad, would commence commercial production within 18 months, he said.

Adding the process of land acquisition for the Diesel Engine plant at Marhowrah and Electric Locomotive workshop at Madhepura was going on full steam, revealed the GM.

Mr. Bhatnagar informed that he had meeting with Chief Minister recently seeking acquisition of required land for railway projects.

Nitish Kumar has issued necessary instructions to the concerned state officials engaged in the task.

Mr.Bhatnagar said while expressing satisfaction over Chief Minister's positive response.

"Both the projects are being executed taking into account the size of estimated traffic by 2050 and would be completed on public-private participation," he said.

While Bihar is fully geared up for the railway expansion, Orissa is in deep slumber, alleged Chitta Baral.

Prof. Baral said that “We have been urging the Chief Minister and the MPs to make the case that all the Orissa projects should also be finished by the end of the 11th plan; but to no avail.

The irony is that to finish the scheduled Orissa projects, no extra money is needed.

It is estimated that Indian Railway will make about 2,800 crore/year profit from Orissa which in 5 years will be Rs.14,000 crores.

The link has all the details: http://www.kbkrail.orissalinks.com/

so if we demand the entire profit to be rolled back in Orissa than there is more than enough for the completion of the projects like Khurda Rd - Nayagarh – Balangir, Lanjigarh Rd - Junagarh - Nabrangpur - Jeypore - Malkangiri - Bhadrachalam Rd , Raygada – Gopalpur, Naupada- Gunupur – Theruvali, Talcher - Bimlagarh and Baripada-Bangiriposi – Chakulia.

All these projects add up to only Rs. 5300 crores.

So if Bihar can aim and achieve the spending of 52,000 crores by 2011, why can not Orissa just ask that profit from Orissa be put in Orissa for the duration of the 11th plan ?, asked Dhirendra Kar, another concerned NRO

Mr. Kar is of view that when we are referring to connectivity to the most backward areas of the country, this should have been harped by the leaders of the state.

With only Rs. 5300 crore out of Rs. 14000 crore spent in the above projects the following railway lines can be taken up in Public –Private-Partnership (PPP) mode costing very little to the Railways- about Rs.1700 crores, revealed Digambara Mishra.

Professor Mishra suggested that Haridaspur – Paradeep, Angul – Sukinda, Bhadrakh – Dhamara and Rupsa – Kirtania can be taken up on PPP mode.

Digambara Patra, leading NRO said that after that Orissa will have another Rs. 7000 crores and it can target lines Lanjigarh Rd - Phulbani – Talcher, Lanjigarh Road – Gopalpur, Phulabni-Berhampur.

Prof.Patra added that Phulbani-Berhampur, Nawapara Road- Bargarh, Talcher-Hindol Road-Gopalpur, Khurda-Naraj Circular Road and Barang-Astaranga railway connectivity can be taken care of with the profits

Only the state has to force the Indian Railways Board for the East Coast Railways (ECOR) profit to be rolled back in Orissa and we are not asking any alms, said Lalit Patnaik, Chief of Agami Orissa.

Deba Nayak, another leading NRO has also urged upon the Chief Minister to take up the issue and force the Centre for rail connectivity to all the 30 districts of Orissa.

Echoing his concern Sandip Das Verma, a leading voice among the NROs has said that connectivity to the worst poverty zones of the country will go in a long way to eliminate Maoist menace in Orissa.

While sitting thousands of miles away from the country the NROs are showing serious concern for their motherland, on the Independence Day almost all the Ministers are busy in making hallow promises to woo the people and forgotten the real issue hurting the state most.

Bereaucrat gets flak for Indian Railways' "Neglect of Orissa": India Abroad July 25, 2008

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