Synopsis
BJD leaders criticize Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's claims of significant railway funding for Odisha, citing inadequate allocations and revenue contributions from the state. They call for transparency and equitable treatment in the allocation of railway funds.Key Takeaways
- BJD opposes Railway Minister's funding claims.
- Odisha generates significant railway revenue.
- Current allocations are insufficient compared to revenue.
- Accusations of political bias in railway division transfers.
- Call for better comparisons in railway network density.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 4 (NationPress) The principal opposition party in Odisha, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), on Tuesday launched a critique against Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding his assertions of unprecedented funding allocation for railway enhancement in the eastern state as per the Union Budget 2025-26.
During a press briefing held here on Tuesday, senior BJD member Amar Patnaik demanded that the Minister provide clarity on the amount of income Indian Railways generates from Odisha through freight and passenger fees each year, along with the percentage of that income that is reinvested back into the state.
"According to our analysis, the Indian Railways receives an average of Rs 25,000 crore annually from the East Coast Railway. Over the past decade, Odisha has contributed Rs 2.50 lakh crore to the Railways. The Rs 10,599 crore allocated—merely Rs 13 crore higher than last year’s funding—is paltry when juxtaposed with the revenue generated from Odisha," stated Patnaik.
He further accused the central government of perpetuating a step-motherly treatment towards Odisha, despite the establishment of a double engine government in the state.
"Despite having 20 MPs, three ministers, and a double engine government, Odisha has received nothing in the union budget for 2025-26," he articulated.
The senior BJD figure also mocked the Union Minister for boasting about the construction of 2,046 km of new railway tracks over the last decade, claiming this outstrips the entire railway network in Malaysia.
He accused the Union Minister of misleading the people of Odisha by making unfounded comparisons between the state and Malaysia, which has a significantly smaller population and land area.
Patnaik urged Vaishnaw to compare the rail network of Odisha with that of Bangladesh, Spain, Australia, and other nations instead.
The senior BJD leader claimed that the profitable Waltair railway division, previously under the East Coast Railway zone and generating approximately Rs 10,000 crore in revenue each year, was reassigned to appease political interests in Andhra Pradesh.
Referring to information disclosed in the Lok Sabha, Patnaik noted that the railway network density in Odisha is lower than that of the smaller state of Punjab.
Patnaik also highlighted that West Bengal boasts a rail network density of 47.5, and Andhra Pradesh has a density of 24.3, while Odisha's railway network density was a mere 17 as of 2020.
The BJD leader criticized the Union Railway Minister for the delays in launching various railway initiatives within Odisha.
Notably, the Railway Minister claimed on Monday that the Centre allocated a record Rs 10,599 crore for this financial year, adding that Odisha has received over Rs 10,000 crore annually for railway development in the past three years.
