Bhubaneswar, July 15: The tussle between the BJD and the BJP to appropriate credit for the Nabakalabar related infrastructure projects continues with only two days left for rath yatra.
Just six days after two Union ministers, Nitin Gadkari and Ravi Shankar Prasad, inaugurated a string of projects in the state, now it is the turn of the Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu to inaugurate a series of projects where local BJP leaders and cadres would turn out in strength.
The projects included inauguration of the railway line between Khurda Road and Begunia and that of the Malatipatpur new station building near Puri. He will also inspect the Nabakalebar-rath arrangements made by the East Coast Railway.
The 32km rail link between Khurda and Begunia will be flagged off by railway minister Suresh Prabhu and chief minister Naveen Patnaik together. This is part of the 289km Khurda-Balangir rail line project, which had begun 22 years ago. The state government has pledged to provide Rs 1,350 crore for the project.
To expedite the project, the state government would sign an MoU with the railway authorities on July 20 to complete the project within six months. Sources said the state government would submit a memorandum to the railway minister to take up railway projects in the seven districts, which are yet to be connected by rail.
The East Coast Railway has announced to run 200 special trains to Puri for rath yatra. The railway will make temporary arrangements for sheltering nearly 5,000 people in the temple town. "We will beef up security. Additional forces will be deployed during rath yatra. Strict vigil will be kept on trains between Khurda and Puri," said Khurda railway divisional manager S.K. Singh.
In Puri, police have beefed up the security for the car festival. Director-general of police Sanjeev Marik said: "We will have zero tolerance towards anything that would threaten the safety of pilgrims. We have trained personnel to co-ordinate law and order with traffic management in order to avoid possible stampede during the festival."
Marik said: "All vehicles entering Puri will be checked and hotels have been asked to keep a watch on any suspicious person."
This apart, coast guard and navy personnel would patrol the sea to rule out any possible intrusion by terrorists.
