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New Indian express reports that Orissa Stevedores Ltd (OSL) started the renovation of Gopalpur Minor Port and its expansion into an all weather port. Excerpts:

“This seasonal port work which was earlier managed by the State Government was entrusted to OSL last year to be developed into a full fledged, all weather port by OSL, on a build own operate share transfer (BOOST) basis for a concession period of 30 years.While the minor Gopalpur port was spread over 282.755 acres the planned all weather port will come up on 513.786 acres. As per the notification by the State Government the district administration has already initiated measures to hand over land to OSL besides leasing out some stone quarries.

As per the initial plans, the port would be developed in two phases at Rs 720 crore. The first phase of the project would involve upgradation and rehabilitation of the existing minor port at Rs 20 crore.

Phase II involves an investment of Rs 700 crore for the development of the port into an all-weather one. On completion of 30 years, the developed port will be handed over to the State Government. However, the private operator would also have to share its gross revenue with the State Government.”

Following is an excerpt on this from a report in Telegraph.

… Subernarekha is an inter-state river flowing through Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal. Under this agreement, water will be shared by the three states in the ratio of 71 per cent, 27 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.

On the Jharkhand side, construction of the Chandili dam and Galudih barrage on the upstream of Subernarekha and 90 per cent earthwork has been completed, officials in the state water resources department said.

However, this inter-state irrigation project is still incomplete as the Jambhira barrage and canal system on Jharkhand-Orissa border is yet to be completed. A sum of Rs 140 crore was spent on the construction of the barrage and canal during 2006-07. An estimated Rs 253 crore will be spent this year, said state water resources secretary Aurobindo Behera. Of it, Orissa will provide Rs 105 crore to Jharkhand this fiscal to complete work on its side. The project from Jharkhand is expected to be complete by December 31, 2008, so that Orissa is able to get irrigation water, said Behera. So far, construction of a 46km canal on Orissa side has been completed and the project is expected to be commissioned by 2009-10.

An estimated Rs 3,500 crore will be required for completion of the project, out of which Rs 1,756 crore will be made available under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme of Central government. Orissa has so far spent Rs 466 crore on the project, said the EIC.

Indigo airlines will connect Bhubaneswar with non-stop to Delhi and Hydearabad and one stop (via Hyderabad) to Bangalore from November 17th. The new schedule is at http://book.goindigo.in/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi?module=c3&page=DESTINATIONSNEW.

The schedule is:

6E 252 Bhubaneshwar Delhi 7:10 PM 9:20 PM Daily
6E 251 Delhi Bhubaneshwar 8:55 AM 11:00 AM Daily

6E 251 Bhubaneshwar Hyderabad 11:35 AM 12:55 PM Daily
6E 252 Hyderabad Bhubaneshwar 5:20 PM 6:40 PM Daily

6E 251 Bhubaneshwar Bangalore 11:35 AM 2:45 PM Daily Hyderabad
6E 252 Bangalore Bhubaneshwar 3:30 PM 6:40 PM Daily Hyderabad

The following is an ad from Samaja.

Following is from the Orissa government press release at http://rc.orissa.gov.in/index3.asp?linkid=30&sublinkid=232.

Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orissa met the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Shri T.R. Baalu today. The meeting mainly focused on the poor conditions of the National Highways in Orissa and the ways & means of improving their standards. In particular, the Chief Minister invited his attention towards the deteriorating condition of NH-215, which connects Panikoili to Rajamunda. This road is the lifeline of the mineral-based industries in Orissa and needs Rs.95.00 Crore for immediate repair and restoration. The Union Minister, Shri Baalu assured to sanction the entire amount immediately and take all steps for maintaining the National Highway. He also assured an immediate increase in the present allocation of funds from Rs.85 Crore to Rs.130 Crore for National Highways in Orissa like NH-6, NH-200 (Chandikhol to Talcher), NH-224 (Khurda to Bolangir), NH-217 (Gopalpur to Raipur), NH-201 (Borigumma to Bargarh) and NH-23 (Biramitrapur to Banarpal) and further increase of Rs.30 Crore in the allocation based on actual need and expenditure. Chief Minister also requested him to augment allocation of funds for repair of the flood damaged roads. Discussion was held on the proposed Vijaywada-Ranchi road passing through Orissa. This road will serve as a security corridor and also provide a boost to the economic development in the leftwing extremist-affected regions of the State. It was decided that Survey work for this project will be taken up by the State PWD and funded by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways quickly. The Union Minister assured his full cooperation and agreed to have a joint meeting of the Chief Ministers of Orissa, A.P. and Jharkhand early to sort out the inter-State issues. He also assured to visit Orissa shortly to have detailed discussions with the State Government on these issues.

Following is from the PIB release http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=32002.

The Chief Minister of Orissa Shri Naveen Patnaik called on the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru T.R. Baalu here today and discussed the various ongoing road projects in the State.

On a request from the Chief Minister for improving and strengthening of National Highway 215 (Panikoili to Rajamunda), Thiru Baalu informed Shri Patnaik that the technical sanction of Rs. 95 crore would be granted immediately It may be recalled that the entire length of 269 kms of NH- 215 has been included under NHDP Phase III and preparation of DPR for four-laning upgradation by NHAI is under way. Meanwhile, in order to improve the deteriorating condition of the National Highways in Orissa, the Ministry would allocate additional Rs 45 crore.

Thiru Baalu indicated to Shri Patnaik that the menace of overloaded trucks has taken its toll on NH 215 and the road condition has deteriorated rapidly. He urged the State Government to take immediate measures to control the plying of over-loaded vehicles on NHs. In order to curb the practice of overloading and to ease the problem of traffic congestion, Thiru Baalu desired that the State Government should organize a meeting with all the stakeholders in which Union Shipping and Road Transport & Highways Secretaries should also participate within a fortnight for finalizing the modalities for strengthening of National Highway 215 which is suffering from the menace of over-loading.

Regarding the Vijayawada – Ranchi Road, Thiru Baalu told the State CM that the Government of Orissa will have to expedite the finalization of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for remaining 600 km of this route in Orissa. The Minister desired to have a detailed presentation on this project as it comprises of National Highways, State Highways and the Village Roads. Thiru Baalu said that he would also be interacting with the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand to expedite finalization of the modalities for this Project.

Regarding the Road connectivity to Paradip Port (NH 5A), the Union Minister told Shri Patnaik that land acquisition for NHDP in general and Paradip Port in particular is required to be expedited by the State Goverment. He also emphasized for immediate identification of alternate service roads and parking places for easing the traffic congestion near the Port area.

A similar article appeared as an op-ed in Samaja about a month back.

Following is an excerpt from a report in New Indian Express.

Effecting a major change in its schedule for Bhubaneswar, Air India has reduced the flights CD-7541 and CD-7542 on the Bangalore-Chennai- Bhubaneswar- Kolkata route to four days a week. In fact, it has obliterated Bangalore from the route.

The flights would, from October 11, ply only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The flight CD-7541 would now depart Chennai at 10.05 am to land in Bhubaneswar at 12 noon. It would take off for Kolkata at 12.30 pm and land there at 1.25 pm.

Flight CD-7542 would take off from Kolkata at 2.30 pm to arrive Bhubaneswar at 3.25 pm. It would proceed to Chennai at 3.55 pm and land there at 5.50 pm. The daily flight IC 7479 connecting Delhi, Ranchi to Bhubaneswar has also been downgraded to five times a week.

The flight from Thursday would ply only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. It would take off from Delhi at 4.55 pm to touch down at Ranchi at 6.40 pm from where it would leave at 7.10 pm and arrive in Bhubaneswar at 8.00 pm.

This has been reported in Tathya.in, Kalinga Times, and Odisha.in so far. Odisha. in has the two letters.

• Letter to the PM
• Letter to the CM

We appeal to the readers with interest in Orissa to contact their local organization (Outside Orissa, the local Orissa/Oriya/Kalinga organization) and through them send a similar letter to the PM and CM at the earliest. The planning commission has been asked by the PM on September 14th to make the location decisions in two months. So time is running out on this.

Following is an excerpt from Newkerala.com on this.

He said the Government would put on tracks ‘Southern Splendour express’ covering most of the tourist spots in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa at a cost of Rs 40 crore, for which the Railway Ministry had approved.

An excerpt from Zeenews is as follows:

Palace on wheels a special train for tourism would be taken up with a total outlay of Rs 40 crores connecting Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, Reddy said and added orders were placed for 19 bogies for this purpose.

Following is an excerpt from a New Indian Express report on this.

A three member survey team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Friday made a spot assessment of the Rourkela airstrip to find out the feasibility of re-introduction of air connectivity to the city.

Led by senior civil aviation consultant and former executive director of AAI D P Chakravorty the team comprised Air Traffic Controller (East) Timir Bandhopadhyay and AAI’s Chief of Communication R K Chandra.

They have reportedly expressed satisfaction over the existing infrastructure.

The team found the airstrip infrastructre here better than that at Ranchi and Jamshedpur. The team, however, felt the need for a passenger terminal besides further strengthening of the existing fire services.

The Chairperson of the Railway board, in Bhubaneswar for the Railways athletic meet, met various Orissa government officials. Following are excerpts from various newspapers report on the meeting.

Statesman:

The state government would provide land for the proposed general stores depot of the east coast railway at Mancheswar.

The proposal was taken in a meeting between the chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik and the railway board chairman Mr KC Jena here today. It is hoped that this particular endeavour would assist the small entrepreneurs to a great extent.

The state government has also promised to provide land for beautification of the entrance to the Bhubaneswar railway station.

Mr KC Jena informed the chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik that a survey is being conducted for running of passenger trains on the Daitari- Banspani route and the certificate of the commissioner for railway safety is being awaited.

Issues pertaining to the development of the railways in the state like expediting of the important railway projects of the state, increasing the allocation, setting up of special purpose vehicles for Haridaspur-Paradeep and Angul-Sukinda railway projects and passenger amenities were the topics discussed in the meeting.

The establishment of a world-class station at Baranga also formed a part of the discussion. The chief secretary Mr Ajit Tripathy of the east coast railway, the general manager Mr SS Khurana, the secretary to chief minister Mr BK Patnaik, the commerce and transport secretary Mr P Patnaik were present in the meeting.

Pioneer:

During the meeting, discussions were also held for speedy implementation of the Khurda Road-Bolangir new broad gauge rail link and Lanjigarha Road-Junagarh rail link project.

The Government also urged the Railway Board chairman to expedite the Bargarha-Nawapara Road -via- Padmapur railway link, Jeypore-Malkangiri railway connection, extensions of Nuapada- Gunupur broad gauge rail link to Theruvali and formation of a special vehicle for the Angul-Dubri-Sukinda Road broad gauge rail link project.

The State Government also took up the issue to introduce more pantry cars on passenger trains. The Government also urged the Railway Board chairman to introduce more AC coaches in the Tapswini and Puri-Raipur Express.

Prior to the meeting, Sambada had published the following as the agenda of what Orissa government will discuss with Mr. Jena.

Following are excerpts from a New Indian Express report by Samiran Sarangi. I talked to him on phone. He says that if everything goes well the expectation is that the flight from BBSR would start around mid-November or early December.

Is Orissa set to have its first international flight – and that too to Singapore? Air India has reportedly agreed to oblige, provided travel and tour operators here ensure a good number of passengers. Travel agents, on their part, are confident of making it possible. More so because the flight that Air India wants to operate via the city is its low cost carrier Air India Express. It would operate on the Kolkata-Singapore route from October 7. A round trip would cost a traveller just about Rs 14,500, as against the normal fare of Rs 24,000. A team from Air India, which visited the city sometime back to study the market here, has asked for at least 40 to 50 passengers on each flight. The 185-seater Boeing 737-800 would be operating thrice a week. "We firmly believe that with the present flow of travellers from the State to Singapore, we can achieve the target," said a confident Benjamin Simon, head of the city-based tour firm Travellink. According to him, roughly 30 to 40 persons head for the island country from Orissa every week as business and leisure travellers. A considerable number of them are from the Western belt of Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Rourkela. … A section of the operators are designing packages that would also include board and lodging at the existing fare at Rs 24,000. It would basically be a three-night-two-day affair and include sightseeing.

Following is a big excerpt from a Telegraph report.

Naveen Patnaik today insisted on the correction of regional imbalance in the country.

“National integration cannot be complete unless there is equitable growth,” he said, while participating in the deliberations of the sub-committee of National Integration Council at New Delhi today.

Historically, the eastern region has not been able to develop as fast as some of the other regions of the country. Enormous resources are required to improve the infrastructure of this region in the form of roads, railways, ports and power.

Without such infrastructure this region cannot attract the kind of investment that would be required for a holistic growth of the national economy, argued Patnaik.

“This may ultimately lead to marginalisation of these regions which would be detrimental to national integration,” he said.

The committee accepted his suggestion and agreed to include this as an agenda of the meeting of the National Integration Council that is going to take place shortly. Naveen also observed that it is equally important to develop human resource of the backward region for the people of those areas to reap the benefits of economic growth. He stressed the need for enrichment of the social capital of the states.

“The country should be prepared to invest in education, including technical education, health, sanitation and governance with special emphasis on the eastern region of the country,” he said.

Patnaik further offered to host the meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council at Bhubaneswar, which was accepted by Union home minister Shivraj Patil, who chaired the meeting today.

As per newkerala.com:

The 2843/2844 Puri-Ahmedabad-Puri Express (via Khurda Rd-Vijainagaram- Rayagada) will now run four days in a week from October five next. According to East Coast Railways (ECoR), the train would leave from Puri every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from October 5.

Following is an excerpt on this from a report in The Times of India.

Over the next couple of months, low-cost carrier IndiGo will base two aircraft in Kolkata to connect more stations out of the city and increase frequency in metro sectors.

Apart from flights to India’s dream holiday destination, Goa, the carrier will also connect Kolkata to Imphal and Bhubaneswar by November.

Following is tathya.in’s take on this.

Finally it is Lalu Prasad Yadav giving waking up call to the sleeping states.

The Union Railways Minister him self has announced that he will present an “unprecedented and astonishing” rail budget for 2008-09.

He on 25 September said at Motihari, while addressing a gathering.

“The thrust will be on further expanding the network in the country”, said he.

So he has in fact drawn the attention of the Chief Ministers of the various states having poor railways infrastructure to rise to the occasion and grab the opportunity offered by the Ministry of Railways.

Never in the past, the Minister of Railways announced before hand that the forthcoming budget will be “unprecedented”.

Reading his mind an insider in the Railway Board said that Mr.Prasad is in a mood to dole out large chunk of investments to the less developed states.

Obviously Orissa has a big chance to grab the opportunity, said he.

So without wasting time the state should take a cue from the hints given by Mr.Prasad, said the insider.

And fortunately the Railway Board Chairman K C Jena belongs to Orissa.

In this scenario asking for an “unprecedented amount of investment for the state will be justified”, said the source.

“If any body has a close look at the demands of Orissa, it hovered around Rs.600 crore per annum.

“With this amount of investment in railway sector, the state will have to wait for another three decades to come up to a level”, said he.

In a realistic assessment the state needs investment at least Rs.3000 crores per annum for at least 10 years to connect its hinter land with the main areas”, revealed an expert in railways.

“Will the chief Minister take a note of the hint given by Mr.Prasad and demand accordingly”, said he.

Now it is time for the all party assembly committee on railways to demand more for the rail projects, which needs immediate funding.

And the list is unending as because the investment level has remained at an abysmally low level because of the laid back attitude of the state government coupled with the callous mentality of the Centre.

The railway minister Lalu Yadav has recently hinted that he is ready for rail network expansion. Following are excerpts from an Economic Times article about it. (Thanks to Rajesh Toppo for the pointer.)

Promising the next rail budget to be unprecedented and astonishing, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday said its thrust will be on further expanding the network in the country.

“The next budget for the Railways will be unprecedented and astonishing. We want to further expand the network in the country and reach such people who have not yet got the opportunity to use its service,” Prasad said while addressing a gathering here after flagging off a new train between Motihari and Varanasi.

Describing the Railways as the country’s “lifeline”, he said, “Though India has the largest rail network in the world, we want to take it to the people who are not yet reached.”

From the above it seems Lalu is open to rail network expansion to hinterlands. But unless Orissa makes its demands in time, they may lose out on this.