The Modi-led NDA Government today announced a record budget grant of Rs 7010 crores for East Coast Railway and Odisha, reflecting an increase of 13 per cent over last year.
The total allocation contains all budgetary heads including projects, electrification, passenger amenities, workshops, track, staff amenities etc, informed sources. Under the budget, Rs 2,630 crore has been allotted for new lines, which is 67 per cent more than last year. The allotment for passenger amenities is Rs 181 crore while it was Rs 82 crore last year.
The Union government has sanctioned a new line of 14.5 km-length between Talcher and Angul which is estimated to cost Rs 278 crores. Similarly, Rs 250 crore has been allocated for Angul-Sukinda line (98.7 km), Rs 400 crore for Haridaspur-Paradeep line (82 km) and Rs 350 crore for Khurda-Bolangir line.