Naveen Seeks Centre’s Early Nod On Alignment Of Balasore-Digha Rail Project

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday sought Railway Minister Piyush Goyal’s intervention to change the route alignment of the much delayed Balasore-Digha broad gauge rail project. Work on the project, sanctioned in 2011, has not kicked off yet because of land acquisition issues in West Bengal.

In a letter to Goyal, Naveen drew his attention to an earlier letter addressed by him to the then Prime Minister where he had proposed to change the route, most of which would passed through Odisha touching pilgrims and tourist spots.

“Since such an important project in Odisha has been stalled for more than seven years, I would request you to kindly intervene in the matter and take an early decision to change the alignment so that the entire route pass through Odisha. I assure you of full co-operation for land acquisition and all other necessary support that would be needed by railways from my state,” he said in his letter.

The 41 km stretch was sanctioned in 2011-12. Out of the total route km, seven km is to run through West Bengal and the rest through Odisha. The CM noted that the project has been kept on hold as land acquisition in the West Bengal portion has not progressed.

In 2011, in a communication to the then PM, Naveen had proposed that the entire route could pass through Odisha touching pilgrim and tourist sites such as Bhusandheswar, chandaneswar and Talsari-Udayapur beach. He had said that such alignment will not only help in development of tourism but will also aid in improving socio-economic condition of the region.