Bhubaneswar: Land acquisition problems have hit the construction of Khurda Road-Balangir railway line. East Coast Railway made the revelation on Friday after a delegation of BJD MLAs met its general manager.

In a press release, it said: "East Coast Railway has kept all infrastructure ready for laying the line, including manpower and materials. The only constraint before railways is the non-availability of land from state government, including few stretches of forest land."

The entire stretch of 289-km railway line passes through Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir districts. Part of the rail line is ready and is already functional on the stretch from Khurda Road to Nayagarh Town. In Boudh, preliminary notification by state government was issued to only 33 of 102 villages. Similarly, out of total 30 villages where land has to be acquired in Sonepur, preliminary notice has been issued by state government for only 13 villages.

The release said the total requirement of forestland in Nayagarh district for the project is 147 acres. The forestland required in Boudh and Sonepur districts is 1,400 acres. It said the railways would be able to ready the entire line in less than three years, if the land is properly made available to it.

"Land acquisition remains a problematic issue as it involves various stages. Only after the social impact study, public hearing at Gram Sabha levels and examination of social impact assessment study by an expert committee, steps are taken for land acquisition. Between issue of pre-notification and final notification, a number of gaps remain to be filled up," the release said.