As expected, the Union Railway Budget 2014-15 ignored the demands of Odisha. The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state, failed to impress upon the Narendra Modi government to get the state’s dues although it has 20 MPs in Lok Sabha and 4 in Rajya Sabha. While Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have been given more importance in the railway budget, Odisha was largely neglected.
Out of the 58 trains announced in the Railway Budget, India got two Weekly Express trains and one Passenger train. The state also got one DEMU train. Apart from that, two Premium trains will pass through Odisha. The 68002/68007 Howrah–Belda MEMU train has been extended till Jaleswar in Balasore district.
The Astaranga Port will have rail links under the Sagarmala Project. Jharsuguda-Subdega will be linked to transport coal, while Nayagarh in Keonjhar district will be linked to Banspani for the transportation of iron ore.
Trains for Odisha:
1) Shalimar-Chennai Premium Express
2) Kamakhya–Bengaluru Premium Express
3) Paradeep–Howrah Express (Weekly)
4) Paradeep–Visakhapatnam Express (Weekly)
5) Hatia–Rourkela Passenger Express
6) Sambalpur–Rourkela DEMU (6 days a week)
7) 68002/68007 Howrah–Belda MEMU extended to Jaleswar.
