Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21: The Odisha government today demanded a package of Rs 5,870 crore for the state in the 2017-18 railway budget.

"This includes detailed proposals for the ongoing projects,sanctioning of new lines, station modernisation, introduction of new trains, extension of existing trains, improved passenger amenities at stations, on board services, establishment of rail-based industries and multi-modal logistics parks," said chief minister Naveen Patnaik in a letter to Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu.

"This package will help both Odisha and Indian Railways in furthering their goals of economic and social justice," said Naveen.

Stating that Odisha generated an annual revenue for Indian Railways in the excess of Rs 15,000 crore every year, the chief minister lamented: "Yet the rail density (15.0) in the state is much less than the national average (19.0), and much lower in comparison to the adjoi-ning states (Bengal: 43.4 and Jharkhand 24.3)."

He also requested the railway minister to upgrade passenger amenities at stations.