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Bhubaneswar (Orissa) : Claiming to be a victim of negligence in Railway budgets, the Orissa government today demanded an allocation of at least Rs 1805 crore towards railway development in the state in 2010-2011, official sources said.
Five new coaching terminals, seven 'model' stations and two multi-functional complexes were also among the demands made by the state, the sources said.
Memoranda to this effect were today sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway minister Mamata Banerjee, the sources said.
Though the state had last year demanded Rs 1504 crore, the Railway budget for 2009-10 allocated only Rs 715 crore of which only Rs 653.22 crore was released, Commerce and Transport minister Sanjeev Sahoo said.
"This time we are hopeful of getting justice", Sahoo told PTI adding that a delegation would soon visit New Delhi for presenting the state's demand before the Railway minister.
While the state government demanded Rs 790 crore for five sanctioned rail links, it asked Rs 100 crore for electrification of five other lines.
It also demanded Rs 100 crore for gauge conversion and extension of two lines. They include conversion of Rupsa-Bangirposi line and its extension up to Chakulia.
Similarly, it also demanded funds for gauge conversion of Nuapada-Gunupur line and its extension till Theruvali.
The memoranda sought Rs 760 crore for doubling of 18 lines against the last year's sanction of only Rs 390 crore.
The state required an estimated Rs 6832.36 crore for completion of all the projects, it said.
