BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has received an allocation of Rs 9,734 crore in the Union Budget for the development of railway sector. It is the highest allocation for the state so far. This time, the state has got Rs 2738.5 crore more compared to last year’s allocation of Rs 6995.5 crore.
The allocation includes state share and extra budgetary resources (EBR) like loans. This year, the state government had sought Rs 7,600 crore from the annual budget 2022-23 for development of the rail infrastructure in Odisha.
One of the oldest and important projects of the state Khurda Road-Balangir (289 km) new line received an allocation of Rs 891 crore this year against last year’s Rs 1000 crore. This new line project sanctioned in 1994-95 will connect western Odisha with the coastal part of the state. Khurda Road to Mahipur (77km) section from Khurda Road end and Balangir to Bicchupali (15km) section from Balangir end have been commissioned so far. Work on other sections is underway.
