Gunupur: The fate of Naupada-Gunupur-Therubali rail route has reportedly been pushed into further uncertainty after the Centre sanctioned only Rs 10 crore in the Budget for FY 2022-23 placed in the Parliament, Tuesday.
The sanction of a meagre Rs 10 crore for the project has sparked sharp resentment in Gunupur and in whole of Rayagada district. The demand for the rail route is not new but for the last 47 years.
It found mention in Budget of 2017-18 for the first time after a long standing demand of the residents. Residents had pinned hopes on Railway Minister Aswini Vaishnaw, representing Odisha in the Union Cabinet, for the completion of the project.
However, the amount sanctioned in this year’s Budget has shattered the hopes of the people. Members of a local outfit ‘Rail Vikash Manch’ also took out a cycle rally and submitted a memorandum to Vaishnaw when he visited Rayagada recently.
People also urged him to expedite the project work from Gunupur to Therubali. The Railway Board had sanctioned Rs 935.72 crore after 79.15km long Gunupur-Therubali rail route received the approval.
Later, the project cost escalated to Rs 1,398 crore after preparation of a detailed project report (DPR). The Railways claimed that the rail route would not be financially viable and asked the state government to provide land free of cost and bear 50 per cent of the project cost.
The state government agreed to provide land free of cost but remained tight lipped on bearing 50 per cent of the cost. A sum of Rs 1 crore was sanctioned for the rail route in the first phase.
Later, the plan outlay was hiked to Rs 232.37 core after survey was conducted for the project in August 2016. The plan outlay has increased substantially after the project was shelved for 11 years.
It was initially planned to complete the project in six years – by 2023. Akshaya Das, a social activist of Gunupur, has urged the state government to intervene and take steps for early completion of the project.
He has also urged the state government to clarify on bearing 50 per cent of the project cost. Reader at Nabarangpur Women’s College Sanjukta Panda and social activist of Malkangiri Sibaprasad Das opined that the sanctioned fund is much less than what is required to complete the project.
Andhra-Odisha Rail Users’ Association convener Satya Prakash Panda of Gunupur said that both the Union and state governments should understand the need for Naupada-GunupurTherubali rail project and take steps for expediting it.
PNN