Bhubaneswar: Odisha has reportedly sought Rs 8,400 crore in the forthcoming Union Budget 2023-24 for railway infrastructure and ongoing projects, including safety-related works.
According to sources, the state has also sought sanctioning of new lines, station modernisation, introduction of new trains, extension of existing trains and improved passenger amenities at stations. The Centre has been urged to allocate Rs 8,400 crore in the budget for different rail projects in the state, they said.
The Union budget for 2023-24 is slated to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Wednesday.
It may be noted here that the Centre had allocated Rs 9734 crore in its budget for 2022-23 for railway infrastructure and safety-related projects in Odisha.
Last year’s budget allocation for Odisha, the highest so far, was Rs 2738.5 crore more than the previous year’s allocation of Rs 6,995.58 crore. It included state share and extra-budgetary resources (EBR) like loans.
The state government had sought Rs 7,600 crore from the Union budget for last financial year for development of railway infrastructure.
Meanwhile, BJP’s state unit general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan told reporters in Bhubaneswar that Odisha has been getting enhanced allocation after BJP came to power at the centre in 2014.
Ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, Odisha has been getting more and more funds for all sectors and programmes, including national highways, railways and infrastructure development and MGNREGA, he said.
Stating that the allocation for Odisha in different sectors was raised in the 2022-23 budget, the BJP leader expressed the confidence that the state will get enhanced funds in the Union budget for 2023-24 to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.
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