Bhubaneswar, Aug. 31: The state government on Tuesday held discussions with East Coast Railway officials on ways to accelerate the land acquisition process for its projects.

A number of railway projects in the state have been hanging fire for over 15 years. The Telegraph, in its issue dated August 24, had carried a detailed report on how state government’s apathy was affecting the projects. Many of these projects suffered because of delay in diversion of forestland and the landlosers filing cases in courts.

Now, it has been decided that the state government, with the help of the East Coast Railway, will expedite the land acquisition process. This was one of the major decisions taken at a meeting on Tuesday attended by the state and railway officials.

Following the meeting, secretary of commerce and transport Gagan Dhal said: “The process of taking possession of land for the Haridaspur-Paradip rail line covering 82km will begin next month.”

The officials agree that in view of commissioning a large number of steel plants in Kalinga Nagar area as well as MoUs signed by the state government with Posco and ArcelorMittal, it is essential that the rail link between Haridaspur and Paradip is commissioned without further delay. “Land acquisition is in progress in Kendrapara, Jagtsinghpur and Jajpur districts. Seventy-five per cent of the land has been handed over to the East Coast Railway,” said a senior government official.

Land acquisition for this project was started in 1997. But, for many reasons, the work has not been completed till date. Out of 1,340.007 acres required for this project, 1,146.300 acres have been acquired.

The 154km-Talcher-Bimalagarh new broad-gauge railway link with an estimated project cost of Rs 810.78 crore is yet to be over. “We mostly face problems regarding diversion of forestland. However, amendment to the central rules for land diversion for official purposes will solve our problem,” said a government official. According to the review report, work on two major bridges on this route is already over, while contract for the rest has already been awarded.

Land acquisition for the Khurda Road-Balangir rail project covering a distance of 289km is over. Detailed estimate for the stretch between 36km and 112km on this route was submitted and approved by the railway ministry. The final location survey from the stretch between 112km and 289km is complete.

Similarly, work on Angul-Sukinda railway line was also reviewed.

The land acquisition in the stretch between Lanjigarh Road and Bhawanipatna is over. Bridge construction is in progress between Lanjigarh and Bhawanipatna.