Expedite NH, Railway Projects In Odisha: Chief Secy To Executing Agencies

Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Saturday directed the project executing agencies to speed up national highway and railway projects through constant monitoring at the ground level.

Implementation of large investment projects in the state has seen significant progress during the last month because of resolution of emerging issues and bottlenecks.

This was revealed during a review by Project Monitoring Group of Prime Minister’s office held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary on Friday wherein Principal Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena outlined the issues for discussion and the respective project proponents presented the updates.

The major projects reviewed in the meeting included Khurda-Bolangir new rail link project with estimated cost of Rs 3,550 crore, Sambalpur-Bamur doubling with estimated cost of Rs 1,111 crore, Haridaspur-Paradip new railway line estimated at Rs 1,000 crore, Talcher-Bimilagarh new rail line estimated around Rs 810 crore, Angul-Sukinda new line project estimated around Rs 638 crore, Chandikhol-Duburi-Talcher section of NH estimated around Rs 996 crore, Binjarbahal-Teleibini section of NH-6 with estimated cost of Rs 1,057 crore, Singara-Binjabahal section of NH-6 estimated around Rs 1,082 crore, Angul-Sambalpur toll road project estimated around Rs 1,220 crore, Panikoili-Rimuli NH estimated at Rs 1,410 crore, Rengali Irrigation Project estimated around Rs 1,000 crore, OGPIL’s 765 KV line in Jharsuguda with estimated cost of Rs 1,223 crore.

Besides, the progress of MCL coal mining project and that of Balaram, Bhubaneswari, Kaniha, Belpahar and Siarmal were also reviewed.

The field-level execution of railway projects like doubling of Konvalasa-Koraput rail link (estimated at around Rs 2.500 crore), third and fourth rail line between Budhapark and Salegam (estimated at around Rs 1,173 crore) and Vizanagram-Sambalpur 3rd line (estimated at around Rs 2,336 crore) were also examined.

Projects related to establishment of new medical colleges attached to exciting district or referral hospitals in phase-II was reviewed.

Heath and Family Welfare Secretary P K Meherda informed the meeting that the detailed project reports have already been prepared and submitted to the government for approval.

The issues related to rehabilitation, disbursement of compensation, shifting of utilities, compliance to forest diversion proposals, DGPS survey, forest clearance, issue of FRA certificate, compensatory afforestation, construction of rehabilitation colony and evacuation of encroachments were discussed and resolved in the meeting.

It may he pertinent to mention here that c-PMS, an online project monitoring system, has been put in place by the central government to monitor the investment projects.

The system has been made investor-friendly and it automatically eliminates duplication and inconsistencies. Any private entrepreneur or any department or ministry willing to start a project can click on www.cabsec.gov.in or www.cabsec.nic.in to get their credentials.

Among others, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnana and Principal Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena were present.