Amid Speculation Of Contesting LS Polls From Cuttack, Vaishnaw Says He Will Follow BJP Decision As Disciplined Worker

Cuttack: Amid speculations about BJP fielding him from Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming elections, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he would perform whatever task is assigned to him by his party as a disciplined worker.

“I am a disciplined worker of BJP and I perform whatever task is assigned to me by the party. Recently, the party asked me to work in Madhya Pradesh and I performed the task given to me,”

Vaishnaw told reporters during his visit to Athagarh area of Odisha’s Cuttack district on Sunday.
naw has been visiting different parts of Cuttack district since Saturday and also taking part in party organisational meetings.

The Union Minister offered prayer at the famous Baba Dhabaleswar Temple during his visit to the area. He also addressed BJP’s core committee meeting at Athagarh as part of efforts to strengthen organisational activities in the area.

While interacting with the media, the BJP leader said that Odisha had been neglected before 2014 as the erstwhile UPA government gave a maximum of Rs 800 crore to the state annually with which only 50 km long new railway lines could be laid.

In sharp contrast, after the Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power, the Centre has been giving top priority to the development of railway infrastructure in Odisha, he said. Now Odisha is getting over Rs 10,000 crore with which 450 km new railway lines are being laid every year in the state, Vaishnaw said.

Following demand by the people from Athagarh, funds have been sanctioned for demolition of the railway level-crossing on the old Cuttack-Sambalpur road near Ghantikhal and construction of a flyover there will begin soon, the Railway Minister said.

Similarly, the demands by people of Ghantikhal and Radhakishorepur for stoppages of express trains are also under consideration, he said.

The BJP leader also visited Bhattarika temple in Badamba and announced Rs 30 lakh for development of the shrine. The minister also attended the party’s core committee meeting at Bhattarika Panthaniwas and Champeswar temple kalyan mandap in Narasinghpur.