On June 1, 2024, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Indian government will invest INR 1 lakh crore for the new railway projects in Odisha over the next five years. This announcement was made during a felicitation program for newly elected BJP MPs and MLAs in Odisha.
Previous Government Delays
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that many railway projects had been delayed due to slow land acquisition processes by the previous BJD government. He expressed a huge optimism that the BJP will be now governing both the state and the centre. Thus, these railway projects will progress faster.
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Increased Budget Allocation
The railway minister pointed out that the allocation of railway budget for Odisha has significantly increased. Under the Modi government, the budget allocated to railways rose to over INR 10,000 crore. This is a huge shift from INR 800 crore during the UPA government’s tenure.
Recent Achievements
In the past three years, more than INR 10,000 crore has been allocated annually to Odisha for railway development. Not just this, but a new railway line of 1,826 km has been constructed in Odisha over the last decade. This railway line is longer than the entire railway network of Sri Lanka.
Special Trains for Rath Yatra
To ensure smooth travel for pilgrims during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, 315 special trains will operate to and from Puri. This is a significant increase from the 222 trains that ran last year.
New Technological Developments
Vaishnaw, who is also the IT minister, announced his plans to set up an electronic manufacturing cluster. He also planned to open semiconductor training centres in Odisha. These initiatives aim to boost Odisha’s technological development.
BJP’s Vision for Odisha
Vaishnav congratulated the newly elected MLAs and MPs. He expressed confidence that the BJP will continue to serve the people of Odisha for the next 50 years. He envisions a “new Odisha” that will contribute to building a developed India.
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Guidance for Elected Representatives
Union Tribal Affairs Minister, Jual Oram advised the newly elected BJP representatives to “prioritize the nation first, the party second and themselves last”. He emphasized that the BJP helped the BJD form a government to end Congress rule in Odisha. But now the BJP is committed to leading Odisha to greater heights.
About the Author
Mr. Radhesh Tarang Shah, is a management student at Institute of Management, Nirma University. He has a passion for writing articles and poems. He has experience as a financial analyst, author, news writer, marketer and social worker.
