New Delhi, July 26: In a conversation with ANI Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Balabhadra Majhi mentioned that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed him about a provision of Rs 70 crore for the Rayagada Railway Division in Odisha.

"I come from the Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituency in South Odisha. All the railway lines we had requested in the past few days have been sanctioned. Additionally, there was a demand for a Railway Division in South Odisha, particularly in Rayagada, to ensure the proper movement of trains," Majhi told ANI..

The BJP MP noted that although the Rayagada Railway Division had been sanctioned, a detailed project report (DPR) for it was still pending approval.

"Andhra Pradesh had also requested a railway zone in Waltair, which was sanctioned. Consequently, there was a push for the formation of a railway division in Rayagada at the earliest. This led to my meeting with the Railway Minister today.

"I expressed my gratitude to him; he mentioned that Rs 70 crore has been allocated for the Railway Division. The land for the railway in Rayagada district is already available. He has directed the East Coast Railway to complete the drawing/design, float the tender, and commence work immediately," Majhi said.

The BJP MP added that Vaishnaw assured him that Koraput, Rayagada, and Gajapati would remain with Odisha in the East Coast Railway Zone and would not be included in the South Coast Railway Zone.

"The South Coast Zone has already been sanctioned, though the detailed DPR is yet to be approved. The division with the South Coast was also sanctioned. Odisha's demand regarding the East Coast has been approved, and a new railway division will be formed in Rayagada," he said.

(ANI)

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