June 17th 2024.
According to recent reports, residents of Gunupur and Padmapur are feeling optimistic about the long-awaited Gunupur-Therubali rail route. This is due to the recent formation of BJP governments at both the national and state level. Aswini Vaishnaw, who represents Odisha, has been appointed as the Union Railway Minister once again. He is familiar with the proposed rail route, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a 100-day timeline for his ministers to work on pending projects. Residents are hopeful that Vaishnaw will prioritize the rail route and make progress within his first 100 days in office.
In the past, the project faced obstacles and became a point of contention between the Centre and the state government. Although the previous state government had agreed to provide land without charge, they did not commit to covering half of the project's cost. As a result, the project was unable to take off and remained stagnant. However, with the BJP in power at both levels of government, it is expected that the project will receive the attention it deserves, according to observers.
A detailed project report has already been prepared for the Gunupur-Therubali rail route, which is expected to cover a distance of 73.62 km. The Centre had initially allocated Rs 935.72 crore for the project in the 2017-18 Railway Budget. However, despite six years passing since then, the project has yet to begin. The Centre even included the rail route in the PM Gati Shakti Yojana, but its fate remains uncertain. Over time, the project's estimated cost has increased to Rs 1,398 crore. The Centre has been allocating small amounts of funds in the budget every year for the Naupada-Gunupur-Therubali rail route, but experts say that without significant funding, the project's future remains uncertain.
In the past, residents of Gunupur organized a bicycle rally and submitted a memorandum to the Union Railway Minister during his visit to Rayagada. It was reported that the Centre had listed the rail route project for approval by the Union Cabinet before the election. When the project is finally completed, it is expected to bring about development in the tribal-dominated district and connect Rayagada with Berhampur and other areas. This will also be beneficial for the Railway in terms of generating profits. Overall, the residents of Gunupur and Padmapur are hopeful that their long-awaited rail route will finally become a reality with the help of the new government.
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