Transportation is the major means for carrying goods, initiate relationships and even means of livelihood for many. Keeping such facts into consideration the “State Government” Of Odisha decided to merge and connect silver City Cuttack to smart city Bhubaneswar. The present reputed CM of the State demanded rail lines between twin Cities to promote good trade, locomotive, increment in opportunities through “Twin city Connectivity”.
His letter to Union Railway Minister included :- the combined population of both Cuttack and Bhubaneswar shall be 2.7 million by 2021, which shall necessitate a rail based Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).
Some of his impactful points included in the letter:-
- Demand and suitable collection of Rs 6,500 crore for the state in the upcoming railway budget.
- Laid emphasis that Odisha generates an annual revenue for Indian Railways in excess of Rs 15,000 crores and yet the average route length, with a rail density (16.0) in the State is much less than the national average (20.0), and even considerably lower in comparison to adjoining States (West Bengal: 43.4 and Jharkhand: 24.3).
- Mr. Patnaik demanded of for establishment of six new train lines in the upcoming rail budget focusing on regions that have not got the opportunity to grow in rail connectivity. The six new rail lines which he demanded are Brahmapur-Phulbani-Sambalpur, Bargarh-Nuapara via Padmapur, Bhadrachalam-Malkangiri, Talcher-Gopalpur, Gopalpur-Sangapur road and Lanjigarh-Talcher.
- Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra’s ultimate sacrifice for the national services was also mentioned. In his remembrance the Minister demanded for Bakshi Jagabandhu Express.
- Later, he urged for initiating the ‘East Coast dedicated freight corridor’ from Kharagpur to Vijaywada and ‘East-West dedicated freight corridor’ from Jharsuguda to Bilaspur to ensure seamless movement of freight between the upcoming ports (Kirtania, Chudamani, Dhamra, Astarang and Gopalpur) on the Odisha coast including the major port at Paradip and the vast northern and central hinterlands of India.
