PM Reviews Angul-Sukinda New Rail Line Project Work.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reviewed the progress of the Rs. 1500 crore Angul-Sukinda new rail line project.

The review was conducted through video conferencing among Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha, Chairman of Railway Board AK Mittal and Chief Secretary of the State Aditya Prasad Padhi. The project is being directly monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, Railway Board Chairman assured the Prime Minister that the project will be completed in two years.

The Chief Secretary said the State Government will offer necessary support to the Railways for completion of the project in time.

The project has already received forest clearance from the Centre for the entire 104 km stretch at one go which is considered a first of its kind approval in the country. The Forest and Environment Department of the State Government has also given its nod.

Similarly, land acquisition for 1470 acre has been completed after which preliminary work has commenced excluding areas that needed forest clearance.

With work permission received from the State Government, the Angul-Sukinda Railway Limited (ASRL) is all set to kick-start the project in full steam.

Managing Director, ASRL Dilip Samantray said the construction work will expedite now that the PM has personally reviewed the project.

The project, which will link industrial and mining belts of Angul, Keonjhar and Kalinga Nagar, will include 78 bridges. Taken up on a PPP mode, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) floated for the project comprises Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd., Container Corporation of India, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. (JSPL) and State Government as equity partners. The equity component is to the tune of Rs. 600 crore while the rest capital would be raised from loans.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS