Naveen urges Centre to change proposed route of Jaleswar-Digha line to avoid land acquisition problem in West Bengal
Hemanta Pradhan | TNN | Jan 21, 2019, 19:57 ISTBHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday wrote a letter to Union railways minister Piyush Goyal requesting him to tweak the proposed route of Jaleswar to Digha railway line in South Eastern Railway in view of problems in land acquisition in West Bengal and make the line completely pass through Odisha.
The 41-km-long Digha-Jaleswar broad gauge rail project was sanctioned by the ministry of railways during the year 2011-12. A length of seven kilometers of the project is proposed to pass through West Bengal while 34 km passes through Balasore district of Odisha.
“Even after seven years of sanctioning, the project has not yet taken off in terms of construction. It is learnt that the project has been kept on hold as land acquisition in West Bengal portion has not progressed,” mentioned Naveen in his letter.
The chief minister said he had proposed a change in the alignment of the railway line in June 2011 to the then Prime Minister. The proposed realigned line will pass through Odisha touching various pilgrim and tourist spots like Bhusandheswar, Chandaneswar and Talsari-Udaypur beach. “Such a change of alignment will not only help in development of tourism but will also aid in improving the socio-economic condition of the region,” he added.
Naveen requested Goyal to intervene in the matter and take early decision to change the alignment so that the entire route may pass through Odisha. “I assure you of full cooperation for land acquisition and all other necessary support that will be needed by the railways from my state,” he added.
Final survey of the line was conducted in the year 2013. The Centre had sanctioned fund for the survey works. There was plan to connect tourists spots of the state with Digha of the West Bengal.
The 41-km-long Digha-Jaleswar broad gauge rail project was sanctioned by the ministry of railways during the year 2011-12. A length of seven kilometers of the project is proposed to pass through West Bengal while 34 km passes through Balasore district of Odisha.
“Even after seven years of sanctioning, the project has not yet taken off in terms of construction. It is learnt that the project has been kept on hold as land acquisition in West Bengal portion has not progressed,” mentioned Naveen in his letter.
The chief minister said he had proposed a change in the alignment of the railway line in June 2011 to the then Prime Minister. The proposed realigned line will pass through Odisha touching various pilgrim and tourist spots like Bhusandheswar, Chandaneswar and Talsari-Udaypur beach. “Such a change of alignment will not only help in development of tourism but will also aid in improving the socio-economic condition of the region,” he added.
Naveen requested Goyal to intervene in the matter and take early decision to change the alignment so that the entire route may pass through Odisha. “I assure you of full cooperation for land acquisition and all other necessary support that will be needed by the railways from my state,” he added.
Final survey of the line was conducted in the year 2013. The Centre had sanctioned fund for the survey works. There was plan to connect tourists spots of the state with Digha of the West Bengal.
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