Bhubaneswar, April 7 (Odisha.in) Chairman, Railway Board and Ex-Officio Principal Secretary to Govt. of India KC Jena visited various project sites in Orissa on East Coast Railway and told officials to expedite various on going railway work in the state.
Jena who personally reviewed the progress with top officials concerned with the projects inspected the doubling works (bridges on Kuakhai and Kathajodi rivers) in Cuttack-Barang Section.
He was not happy with the pace of progress of the works and exhorted the officials and the construction agencies to finish the works expeditiously.
Managing Director, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) assured the Chairman that he will ensure completion of the project as per the targets given by the Chairman by deploying adequate labour and supervisors working day and night continuously.
One of the main reasons given by MD/ RVNL for not being able to speed up the projects was non-availability of the skilled labour in Bhubaneswar area particularly for the track and bridge works.
While inspecting the 2nd bridge on Mahanadi river (length 3.1Km), longest in the state of Orissa, MD/RVNL assured the Chairman that all works will be completed before April and the double line will be opened for freight traffic by 1st May this year.
Opening of this line will substantially ease the existing constraints and limitations in operations particularly improving the movement of freight traffic meant for Paradeep Port.
Jena also visited Cuttack railway station and inaugurated Wi-Fi Hot-Spot facility introduced at Cuttack railway station.
The Wi-Fi facility will help travelling passengers with laptop to avail internet facility in the station premises.
This state-of-the-art facility has been installed for the first time in a railway station in the Eastern Part of India.
He announced an award of Rs. 25000/- to Upendra Sethy, Chief Signal and Telecom Engineer, East Coast Railway and RailTel and his team for the excellent work done in a short time.
As per the request of the press & members of the public at Cuttack railway station, instructed officials to increase the number of existing 3 booking counters to 5 particularly during peak rush hours from tomorrow i.e 7th April.
Jena also inaugurated a modern and sophisticated Merchants Lounge at Cuttack Freight Terminal. Such a facility has been provided for the first time in any freight terminal over Indian railways.
He announced an award of Rs. 25,000/- to V.K.Bahmani, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) and his team for the good work done as well as completion of the work as per target.
During the inspection Sri Ajay Kumar Goyal, General Manager East Coast Railway, R.Venkadasamy, Divisional Railway Manager/Khurda Road along with other senior officers of Headquarters, Khurda Road division and RVNL accompanied the Chairman.
Jena will inspect and review the working of the Mancheswar Coach Repair Workshop on 7th April and give further directions for implementation of the important sanctioned project of expansion of the capacity of the workshop by almost 50 per cent from the existing 105 coaches per month to 150 coaches.
Other important issues are also proposed to be discussed with the General Manager on 7th April.
Odisha.in