State Government's proposal, a big jolt to Rourkelites

New Indian Express reports

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has demanded 12 new trains in the 2012-13 Railway Budget.

The new trains are, Bhubaneswar-Mumbai/Pune, Puri-Jeypore/Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar-Bangalore, Puri/Bhubaneswar-Surat (all Duronto express), Rourkela-New Delhi, Keonjhar-Howrah, Barbil-Visakhapatnam via Keonjhar and Bhubaneswar, Titlagarh-Bhubaneswar via Rayagada, Bhubaneswar-Shiridi daily express, passenger train service between Barbil-Puri and passenger service between Bhawanipatna-Bhubaneswar via Sambalpur.

In a letter to Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also demanded increase of frequency of several trains following persistent demand from the travelling public. The trains are, Bhubaneswar-Kurla-Lokamanya Tilak express, Puri-Ahmedabad express via Sambapur, Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani express, Puri-Patna Baidyanath express and Puri-Guwahati express.

Cuttack and Bhubaneswar are being developed as twin cities and as per the comprehensive development plan prepared by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, the combined population will be 2.7 million by 2021.

Stating that this will necessitate a mass rapid transit system (MRTS), Naveen said that this was the appropriate time to commence detailed planning for rail based city transport system in greater Bhubaneswar region.

Stating that the operationalisation of East Coast Railway (ECoR) has brought railway management closer to the people and problems of Odisha, the Chief Minister demanded extension of its jurisdiction to include Banspani-Padapahar section, Bhadrak-Laxmannath section in Khurda Road division and Jharsuguda-Barasuan-Kiriburu, Rourkela-Nuagaon and Jharsuguda-Himagiri sections in Sambalpur division. Besides, appropriate functional reorganisation of ECoR will necessitate the creation of a new railway division at Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, he said.

The Chief Minister has demanded that the doubling work of Rayagada-Koraput and Kottavalsa-Kirandul broad gauge rail link should be sanctioned. He also said that the doubling work of Khurda Road-Puri link (phase-II), Raj Athgarh-Barang and Barang-Khurda Road third line should be expedited. These projects should be commissioned in 2012-13 with provision of enhanced budget, he said.

He demanded the electrification of Talcher-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda, Sambalpur-Titlagarh and Koraput-Rayagada railway lines should be sanctioned. He requested that execution of world class station at Bhubaneswar and Puri should be expedited. Railway stations at important district centres and major tourist destinations need special attention to provide multi-functional complexes and upgraded passenger amenities, he said.

The Chief Minister also sought introduction of DMU services in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela and Berhampur-Balasore corridors. He said that a new train service from Puri to Pune and Mumbai via Sambalpur and Titlagarh has become essential.

Advocating for a self-sustainable and workable PPP initiatives in the coal and iron ore sectors, the Chief Minister has requested formulation of a suitable policy for attracting private investment in the development of dedicated rail corridors.



Instead of considering the creation of Rourkela Division, the State has put the demand to extend the jurisdiction of Sambalpur Division, which is really a big shock for Rourkelites

'More interaction among industrialists to boost growth'

Zee News/PTI reports

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday advocated regular interaction among members of various chambers of commerce and industry saying it would go a long way in boosting economic growth.

"Frequent interaction among members of chambers of commerce and industry will
help the entrepreneurs to strengthen the economy," Mukherjee said at the golden jubilee celebration of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in Rourkela.

Regular discussions and exchange of ideas among entrepreneurs would play a significant role in boosting economic growth, he said.

The economic policy being implemented by the government would benefit the future generation as it provides free and fair opportunities, the finance minister said.

Praising late Biju Patnaik, former chief minister of Odisha, Mukherjee said the legendary leader's role was not confined to the state. Patnaik was truly a national leader who made immense contribution to the economic development of the country, he said.

Inaugurated by Biju Patnaik in 1952, RCCI had completed 50 years and contributed to the all round development of the region, Mukherjee said.

Referring to demands put forth by the Chamber, the finance minister expressed inability to give any commitment as the model code of conduct was in force in view of the ensuing Panchayat elections in Odisha.

Pranab lays foundation stone of new NIT building

Zee News/PTI reports

Rourkela: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 60 crore building of the prestigious National Institute of Technology (NIT) here.

Pranab lays foundation stone of new NIT building
The 13 storied building equipped with sophisticated gadgets and modern facilities would be constructed coinciding with the golden jubilee of NIT.

The landmark building, scheduled to be completed in two years, would house important sections including the administrative office of the NIT.

Mukherjee, who was on a two-day visit to the steel city, praised the role being played by NIT in imparting high quality technological education.

The finance minister also inaugurated the 84th annual conference of Nikhila Bharat Banga Sahitya Samilana where more than 1,000 delegates participated from different parts of the country.

Pranab lays foundation stone of new NIT building
Highlighting the significant role played by language in national integration and harmony, Mukherjee said the bond among people gets strengthened through literature which transcends geographical barriers.

The senior Congress leader, during his arrival here yesterday, was greeted with a demonstration by activists of India Against Corruption who protested the visit.

About six of the demonstrators who shouted slogans and carried flags demanding a strong Lokpal, were arrested as a preventive measure.

The finance minister had attended the golden jubilee celebrations of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry last evening.

Ex-RSP staff given mushroom farming training by KIIT

A report from Daily Pioneer

Under Counseling, Retraining and Redeployment (CRR) scheme of the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, forty trainees, who had retired under VRS from Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), were given certificates and conveyance allowance of `60 per day by KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, after their successful completion of mushroom cultivation training here on Thursday.

To bring the VRS people again into the mainstream, the Government of India has introduced this scheme and in Odisha, the scheme is monitored by the KIIT University’s School of Rural Management Department (KSRM) as nodal agency and in Rourkela, it is implemented by noted social organisation ‘ENVICARE’.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Chief Guest B. Swain advised the trainees to be vegetarian for a good health. Mushroom cultivation is a profit making venture, he said and urged every body to do it.

ENVICARE Director Aurobinda Das delivered the guest introduction speech and spoke about the aim of the scheme. KSRM senior project coordinator Gopal Bhoi and ‘ENVICARE’ member secretary Srikant Satpathy spoke.

Pranab lays stone of new NIT-Rourkela building

A report from Daily Pioneer

Rourkela: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the new NIT-Rourkela's building. The 13-storied building would be constructed at a cost of `60 crore. The building equipped with sophisticated gadgets would be come up in two years coinciding with the NIT’s golden jubilee. Mukherjee also inaugurated the 84th annual conference of the Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Samilan which was attended by over 1,000 delegates from different parts of the country.

Hostels for tribal students on the anvil

Indian Express reports

BHUBANESWAR: To address residential problems in towns and urban centres faced by tribal students, the ST & SC Development Department has decided to set up hostel complexes in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela and Berhampur. As per the project, three such complexes will come up in Lumbini Vihar, Kalinga Vihar and Pokhriput in one acre land each in Bhubaneswar, one each in Berhampur and Rourkela.

The complex at Rourkela will be constructed on five acres of land. While one hostel complex in Berhampur has already been constructed and 143 tribal students are residing in there, work for another one is on in two acres of land.

Sources said the complexes in Bhubaneswar will house as many as 1000 students and those in other two centres will accommodate 300 students each. Land for the purpose in all the three centres have been acquired.

These complexes will house all the facilities for students and keeping in view their requirements, educational architects have prepared detailed project layouts.

Sources said though a decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting in September last year, work began this year.

Many reputed educational institutions in these three centres have enrollment of several tribals students. Many of them who fail to get hostel seats are forced to stay in private accommodations by paying high rents.

“Education of tribal students is the primary objective of our department. These complexes will be of great help to them who want to pursue higher education in urban centres,” said Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the department Santosh Sarangi.

The complexes will be set up at an expenditure of Rs 20 crore to Rs 22 crore. The construction works will be completed in another one-and-half years.

This apart, the department is setting up 1000 girls hostels in remote areas this year, which will provide facility for one lakh tribal students.

Sarangi said plans are also in the pipeline for starting 30 new ashram schools in the State by the department which will have classes from Std 6 to 10. An amount of Rs 1.7 crore each have been earmarked for construction of the schools, hostels and staff quarters, he added. Education in these schools will begin in 2013-14 academic year.

RSP blast furnaces scale new peaks

IBNlive reports

Rourkela, Dec 21 (PTI) Blast furnaces of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) achieved another feat by recording the best ever production for any single day. The plant produced 7375 tonnes of hot metal yesterday thereby surpassing the previous record of 7351 tonnes of hot metal produced on October 28, 2009, RSP sources said today. Blast Furnace-three also contributed significantly in achieving this feat by making 1825 tonnes of hot metal on the said day, again its best ever performance. Adequate support was extended by various departments including Sintering Plant-I, Sintering Plant-II, Coke Ovens, SMS-I, SMS-II, CPP-I, Utilities, T&RM and other service units which have pitched in with effective support. RSP CEO G S Prasad visited the blast furnace department this morning and congratulated the employees.

Rourkela-Sundargarh SH-10 turns death trap

Times of India reports

ROURKELA: The Rourkela-Sundargarh SH-10 has turned into a virtual death trap with 90 to 100 accidents taking place on the road every year. This despite the safety measures like creating awareness about speed limits by Sundargarh police.

According to statistics available with Sundargarh police, 90 accidents have taken place in 2008 in which 96 people were killed. In 2009, there were 81 accidents resulting in 83 casualties. The number of accidents in 2010 was 90 with 102 deaths. In 2011 till November-end, 69 accidents had taken place in which 71 people had died.

Recently, Sundargarh police conducted a detailed survey in an effort to ascertain different aspects of accidents like accidents-prone spots, time of occurrence of maximum number of accidents and category of victims and accused. "The findings of the survey were analysed at a high-level meeting and a detailed plan has been chalked out to ensure that the number of accidents are reduced to the lowest possible limits," said Sanjib Arora, SP (Sundargarh).

"After analyzing the information of the survey, we have identified accident-prone spots. Most are between Kutra and Bargaon with most mishaps taking place between 12 noon and 9 pm," informed Y Jethwa, DIG (WR).

"The victims are mostly pedestrians, cyclists or two-wheelers whereas the accused were mostly dumper or truck drivers," Jethwa said. "People driving with very high speeds while being drunk due to the easy availability of country and foreign liquor along the highway is believed to be the main reason behind these mishaps," Jethwa said. "So we have drawn an action plan to bring down the number of accidents/deaths in another six to eight months by our systematic operations on this route," Jethwa added.

"We will involve different agencies for introducing multifarious interventions like speed breakers at crucial points," Jethwa said, adding that "We will involve NGOs to spread awareness". "We will conduct a surprise check on drivers to analyse their driving skills," he said.

"Besides increasing the frequency of patrolling, we propose to have couple of composite patrolling vans with facilities of medical staff and first aid at strategic locations, so that they can rush to the accident spot within minutes," he added.

More night trains with tight security

IBN Live reports

ROURKELA: It is official now. Movement of trains at night on the busy Howrah-Mumbai route of the South Eastern Railway (SER) has partly been restored and indications are that more trains would start running from Tuesday night.

In the wee hours of Tuesday, the Kurla-Shalimar Express and the Hapa-Howrah Express chugged into Rourkela.

After security clearance, the SER had on Monday evening lifted restrictions on the Rourkela-Chakradharpur section and cleared the passage till Tata. Bilaspur-bound passenger train was the first to leave Tata. It would, however, take a few more days to restore complete normalcy owing to security reasons.

Meanwhile, the SER has announced continuation of the regulation between 10 pm and 5 am on the volatile Kharagpur-Tata section till December 23.

If sources are to be believed then notwithstanding the official ban between Tata and Kharagpur stations, more trains would run on the route on an experimental basis from Tuesday night amidst tight security.

Around 40 pairs of express and 22 pairs of passenger trains ply on the route and restoration of train movement at night would mean enormous time and cost savings for thousands of passengers.

Kolkata-based SER chief public relations officer Soumitra Bannerjee described it as a “good beginning”. He said restriction on the Kharagpur-Tata section would be lifted after security clearance from West Bengal and Jharkhand governments.

If security feasibility permitted then more trains would start running at night in phases as it involved three states including Odisha and three railway divisions, he added.

As a security measure, pilot trains would escort the passenger trains and police of the states concerned in tandem with CRPF and railway security personnel would ensure ground security.

SER had begun regulating night trains since May 28, 2010 after suspected Maoists derailed the Jnaneswari Express in West Bengal leading to death of around 144 persons.

Night train services partially restored

New Indian Express reports

ROURKELA: Bilaspur-Tata passenger train reached Rourkela on Monday evening marking an end to the restriction on movement of night trains on the busy Howrah-Mumbai route.

Sources said regulation on plying of trains between 10 pm and 5 am at various sections of the South Eastern Railway (SER) had been continuing since May 28 last year after derailment of Jnaneswari Express in West Bengal by suspected Maoists.

SER spokesperson for Chakradharpur division AK Haldar confirmed that restriction on the Chakradharpur-Rourkela section was lifted on Monday evening. He, however, said night movement of trains would remain suspended on the Tata-Kharagpur section till December 23. Under these circumstances, the Kurla-Howrah Express would be allowed to leave Chakradharpur on Tuesday, he added. SER sources said around 40 pairs of express trains and 22 pairs of passenger trains ply on these two sections of the Mumbai-Howrah route.

Welcoming the decision, Rourkela Development Steering Committee (RDSC) president Subrata Patnaik said it was a victory for their unrelenting struggle. RDSC has held numerous agitations for restoration of night movement of trains.

Would Hemanand help State on minerals Bill?

A report from Daily Pioneer

Odisha has reasons to be happy over the controversial Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, which will replace the age-old mining rules.

Congress MP from minerals-rich Sundargarh and former Chief Minister Hemanand Biswal is the man who now holds the key to the debatable points in the Bill. He is the Chairman of the Parliament’s Standing Committee of Labour and Employment.

The committee has been entrusted with the task of studying the Bill before it is placed in the Parliament for debate.

The Odisha Government’s many arguments seem to have been ignored by the Centre, but now with Biswal being at the helm of affairs, the State could hope for the best, said a senior official in the State’s Department of Steel and Mines.

The State Government had earlier made several demands to be incorporated in the Bill including stopping of export of iron ore and introduction of a new tax on iron ore over the supernormal profit made by the mines owners.

According to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the mines owners are getting abnormal profit as the price of iron ore have increased manifold in the international market. Annoyed over the provisions of the Bill, Patnaik has already remarked that it is as ‘too little’, ‘too late’.

“I’m informed that the new Bill has provision for 26 per cent profit sharing by coal companies and an additional 10 per cent royalty for iron ore. I had asked the Prime Minister for 50 per cent of the supernormal profit made by the private mine owners,” Patnaik said.

The State has asked for much more than what has been announced by the Central Government. The Chief Minister said, “Introduction of new tax and value addition clauses would have helped the poor people in the State.” Now the State Government would once again harp on the issues, sources said.

Nayak plays nameplates politics

Daily Pioneer reports

Urban Development Minister Sharada Nayak has come under sharp criticism allegedly for indulging in nameplate politics and targeting Ajit Das, his predecessor and deceased MLA of Rourkela.

BJP MLA Karendra Majhi raised a point of order in the State Assembly alleging that the administration of Rourkela, at the instance of Nayak, has been trying to disrupt the process of installation of a statue of Das by the residents of Chhend at a social home, which was constructed in his MLA LAD fund. Majhi condemned the approach of Nayak for indulging in nasty politics.

Sources said the Rourkela Development Authority (RDA) had served a notice to the Gopabandhu Welfare Trust (GWT), which is in charge of the management of the Gopabandhu Kalyan Mandap, Chhend, to hand over its possession to the RDA.

The RDA alleged that the trust has failed in managing the social home and has been engaged in illegal construction inside it. Significantly, although the GWT has been managing the Kalyan Mandap for about eight years, the RDA stepped in through the said notice for the first time and asked to hand over the possession without giving any show-cause, the sources added.

According to sources, however, respecting the local public desire, the trust management had decided to set up a statue of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das and Ajit Das in the premises of the social home since Ajit Das had taken a leading role in construction of the social home to fulfil the need of the local people by contributing `13 lakh from his LAD fund and arranging another `10 lakh from the then Rajya Sabha member Dilip Ray’s MP fund.

Sources said installation of statue of Ajit Das was not well received by Nayak, as a result of which in his direction the RDA has served the notice to hand over possession.

Ironically, the notice gave only three days’ time to hand over so that the trust management cannot take the shelter of court. The notice was challenged in the High Court, and a status quo order was granted over the matter by the court, besides serving a notice to the RDA.

Apart from the recent controversy over the Ajit Das statue issue, several other cases have also come to fore wherein the authorities, allegedly at the instance of Nayak, have attempted to remove the nameplates ex-MLAs and ex-MPs from different monuments. It is alleged that even though hundreds of his nameplates and of his other party colleagues have been installed in different small projects in the last seven years, Nayak has not been able tolerate the existence of a few nameplates of leaders of other political parties in the city.

The name of Dilip Ray, which was figuring under the statue of the Biju Patnaik statue at the Sector 2 square, has of late, been disfigured. Similarly, the nameplate Ajit Das under the statue of Madhusudan Das at the Chhend square was thrown out during the shifting of the statue for expansion of road. The statue was relocated and the nameplate of Das was thrown in the waste.

Pollution board slaps closure notice on Rourkela Steel Plant units

A report in Times of India

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha state pollution control board (SPCB) slapped closure notices on the captive power and sinter units of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) on Monday, signaling crisis in the Central PSU.

Though RSP sources maintained they had not yet received official communication in this regard, the SPCB here said the "Sundergarh district collector, as per law, will implement the decision with immediate effect". "We kept the plant under watch for two years. We did not give RSP consent to operate, but had not decided to serve closure notice during this period keeping in mind that it is a major PSU and a source of livelihood to thousands of people. But as the situation did not improve we had no choice but to issue the closure notice," SPCB member secretary Sidhanta Das told TOI. He said in the past two years the SPCB had conducted physical inspection of the plant and talked to officials, hoping the RSP to reduce the pollution level, but in vain.

The plants to be closed in the RSP complex are a 1959-made 50 mw captive power unit and a sinter plant. A RSP spokesperson when contacted said the decision would not affect the production "much". "We are going to make fresh appeal before the SPCB for reconsideration of its directive," the spokesperson said.

Informed sources said closure of one of the three medium pressure boilers in the CPP-1 and the sinter plant-1 may have a chain reaction on other units, leading to fall in steel production. "Steam produced in the old CPP is presently used almost like oxygen for the four blast furnaces. From this the impact of CPP closure can be imagined," said an RSP official. He said sinter plant closure could further affect the plant, as it "converts iron ores into the desired size, fit for feeding the blast furnaces".

The RSP, built in 1983, produces around 7,000 tons of hot metal (liquid iron) daily, 6,300 tons of crude steel and about 5,800 tons of finished steel. The plant has another CPP of 120 mw capacity. It has also a second sinter plant, which for the time being would be used for feeding the four blast furnaces, the sources pointed out.

The RSP is currently undergoing another phase of modernization at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 11,000 crore. "Most of the works like the 5th blast furnace, sinter plant-3, ore bedding and blending unit and a new coke oven unit would be ready by 2012," the plant spokesman said.

Elaborate security for Howrah-Mumbai track

Times of India reports

JAMSHEDPUR: With the Railway Board announcing resumption of night train service from Monday, the Chakradharpur rail division has made an elaborate security arrangement to preempt any sabotage threat, if any, on the Chakradharpur-Rourkela section of busy Howrah-Mumbai line.

In the wake of passenger trains running for the first time at night on the said section after about 19 months, the railway authorities have taken all security issues into account in run up to the actual start of the service. "In addition to RPF personnel, we have paramilitary personnel on duty to man the track security (in vulnerable zone) on the Chakradharpur-Rourkela section," said RPF commandant A K Chaurasiya, Chakradharpur division.

Three CRPF companies have been deployed at six specific railway stations Jaraikela, Goelkera, Sonuwa, Lotapahar, Posaita and Bhalulata in Maoist-hit West Singhbhum district. "Responsibility of track security has been entrusted with the state government agencies and CRPF personnel will jointly work with the GRP and local police for area domination (track security)," said the commandant.

In addition to this, four companies of special RPF commandoes will travel escorting the passengers on trains crossing the said section. While, a pilot engine with CRPF personnel on board will escort the passenger train from Chakradharpur to Rourkela. Initially, Tatanagar-Bilaspur passenger train and lone express train Howrah-Kurla Shalimar Express will run at night on the announced section.

Tatanagar railway station superintendent R Choudhary said, "Bilaspur passenger and Shalimar Express will run at 75KMPH till Rourkela at night. We hope, gradually other trains will also run at night but we need to wait for the train service resumption on Kharagpur-Tatanagar section."

Authorities at the divisional office said RPF officials are in talks with the Bengal government to seek track security, as the railway force has given its nod for resumption of train service on Kharagpur-Tatanagar section. "The railway has no issue with the security. It is up to the Bengal government to respond since it has to man track security and hopefully, things will be soon resolved," said an RPF official.

Amway launches new office in Rourkela

Daily Pioneer reports

Amway India Enterprises unveiled its first office on Friday. The state-of-the-art office would capture the untapped business potential of this industrial belt as well as of western Odisha. With this, Amway’s total number of offices in the State has gone up to five, the other four being in Bhubaneshwar, Baleswar, Jeypore and Brahmapur.

Spread over a 550-sqft area, the new two-storied Amway Touch Point office would house a computerised customer service and product ordering facility and distributor waiting area. It is also equipped with training and counselling room. Distributors residing in Rourkela, Jharsuguda, and surrounding areas would now be able to find information and training on the existing and new quality products from the stable of Amway and order for products across the counter.

Speaking at a Press conference post the inauguration of the office, Amway Vice-President (East) Diptarag Bhattacharjee said, “Odisha, a State with high growth potential, has been continuously witnessing a steady double-digit growth over the last three years. The first eleven months in 2011 has seen our business grow by 34 per cent over the same period in 2010. We are quite hopeful that our presence in Rourkela would drive huge growth, catapulting Odisha to one of the largest contributors of Amway East.”

In a message, Amway India MD&CEO William S Pinckney said, “The opening up of the office with exclusive product training facility in Rourkela is a clear indication of the impressive growth of Amway’s business in Odisha and our commitment to support and be closer to our business owners and customers.”

Rourkela-Choudwar industrial route in offing

Daily Pioneer reports

The State Government has began the building process for the Rourkela-Choudwar railway and road corridor with the IDCO having already commenced land acquisition formalities. The corridor will facilitate goods transportation from industrial units and mines in the region.

According to IDCO Chairman-cum-Managing Director Priyabrata Patnaik, the route will have 163 km of railway track and 465 km of road. As many as 308 minor bridges and 77 major bridges will be constructed at different points of the project.

Sources said that this project involves development of rail and road in elaborate manner. It also includes water supply along with other infrastructural facilities. The industrial corridor will provide six-lane roadways with two-track railway lines.

This corridor will solve the problems relating to inward and outward transportation of goods and minerals under the common infrastructure facilities. It will pass through the heart of coal mining areas which have a reserve of about 65 billion tonnes.

The project will cover 17 large and mega-industries along with 57 other units.

U-Turn: Curbs on night trains on

New Indian Express reports

BHUBANESWAR/ROURKELA: A day after it announced resumption of train services in the night along Maoist-hit regions of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Sunday said restriction on movement of passenger trains will continue.

The South Eastern Railway (SER), which too had made an announcement to this effect, made a U-turn throwing passengers into a tizzy. Resumption of movement of trains during night through Kharagpur-Tata, Kharagpur-Adra and Rourkela-Chakradharpur sections would have meant passenger trains going back to normal schedule. However, that will have to wait. At least till December 14.

A communication (bulletin No. 107) from SER in the morning said trains would run in the night but another communication reached local authorities in Rourkela on Sunday afternoon informing that the decision stood cancelled. A senior official at the Chakradharpur Division told a local television channel that the decision was put on hold due to intelligence inputs received from the West Bengal Government.

Talking to this paper, Chief Public Relations Officer of SER Soumitra Mozumdar contradicted his divisional officials saying no such decision was taken to resume trains. He, however, said there are strong possibilities that night train services would resume very soon.

The ECoR, on its part, said unavoidable circumstances led to the continuation of restriction on train movement in the three sections between 10 pm and 5 am and the restriction will remain in force till December 14.

Sources, however, said it was the West Bengal Government which went on the backfoot over security arrangement for allowing night movement of trains in the Maoist-hit regions which led to the confusion.

“It was only after the Mamata Banerjee Government had made a commitment to this effect that a decision was taken and orders were passed from the Rail Board,” sources said adding since the Maoists are desperate to avenge death of Kishenji, the Bengal Government is no mood to take any chance.

A fresh assessment of the law and order situation in the Maoist-affected regions is expected sometime mid next week. Till December 14, all major trains passing by the route will have to abide by the restrictions.

Night train services resume on Sunday

New Indian Express reports

BHUBANESWAR: The East Coast Railways has decided to resume night train services in the Maoist-affected contiguous regions of Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal on Sunday. The trains which will route through the Kharagpur-Tata, Kharagpur-Adra and Rourkela-Chakradharpur sections will travel with adequate safety precautions and at a restricted speed of 75 km per hour between 10 pm and 5 am during the bandh called by the Maoists.

As a safety precaution, light engines and goods trains will be run before passenger trains during the nights.

According to the schedule released by the ECoR, the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express will run on normal route - the Cuttack-Bhadrak-Kharagpur-Tata-Jharsuguda route. So will the Haridwar-Puri Utkal Express which will arrive at Jharsuguda on December 12. The Tata-Jharsuguda-Tata Special train will be withdrawn from Monday.

Similarly, there will be no night regulation on the New Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express leaving New Delhi on December 11 nor will there be any restriction in New Delhi-Puri Nandankanan Express and New Delhi-Puri Duronto Express in East Central Railway zone.

Other trains such as Howrah-Koraput Samaleswari Express on both directions will run on normal timing.

The Puri-Patna Baidyanathdham Express, Puri-Guwahati Express, Puri-Darbhanga Express and Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Orissa Sampark Kranti Express will run on their scheduled timings.

The Chennai-Guwahati Express leaving Chennai on December 12 and Chennai-Dibrugarh Express leaving Chennai on December 15 will run as per the original schedule. The Patna-Ernakulam Express leaving Patna on December 15 will run on originally scheduled timings.

Kolkata-Rourkela DTDS air service launched

Daily Pioneer reports

First time in India a “Per Seat”, fixed cost, fixed schedule air service was launched between Kolkata and Rourkela by DTDS. The business travellers from across India can now expect to travel in style and comfort in charter planes.

DTDS announced plans to launch the service to the industrial city Rourkela from Kolkata, where passengers can book single seats on fixed rates and fly at fixed charter timings. Travellers from across India can fly to the Industrial city and return on the same day. DTDS charter flight timings connect morning flights reaching Kolkata from Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, and New Delhi. So travellers to Rourkela from anywhere in India or abroad can reach destinations in shortest time and catch connecting evening flights.

‘Government to reclaim unused land’

New Indian Express reports

ROUREKLA: The State Government was in the process of reclaiming unused land from various lessees, including the railways, and Central government agencies besides the encroachers, said Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro on Monday. Land worth over Rs 10,000 crore would be reclaimed by the government and revenue officials would be made responsible to render services in a time frame, he added.

Addressing a gathering at the 32nd Annual Conference of the State Non-Gazette Revenue Field Officers’ Association with Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei, Patro said new norms would be introduced to make revenue-related services easier and officials delaying files would face the music.

The Government was working to clear the mess over controversial land transfers, majority of which took place in the 1960s, adding that 429 new revenue circles would be formed. Each of the gram panchayats in scheduled areas would have a RI in addition to the 1,842 existing Revenue Circles, Patro stated.

Ghadei claimed that the State’s revenue grew four fold to Rs 16,000 crore, yet around Rs 22,000 crore was spent towards payment of salaries, pensions and interests on debts. The State’s revenue would be augmented to Rs 20,000 crore and this, Ghadei said, could be done as economic health of the rural pockets has improved. He went on to claim that per capita income in the State was on the rise.

Over 1,100 RIs from across the State participated in the conference which pressed for removal of discrepancies in pay structure of revenue officials and introduction of special allowances to members deployed in Maoist-hit areas.

CM worried over fatal mishaps at R'kela plant

Daily Pioneer reports

Concerned over the frequent accidents leading to deaths of workers in the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday urged the Union Steel Minister to direct the concerned authorities to stop recurrence of incidents.

Patnaik, in a letter to Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma, ueged him to direcct the RSP authorities to ensure adherence to safety standards in all work procedures and prevent accidents in future.

Describing the regular accidents as unfortunate, he also told him that the RSP authorities must also be asked to take care of the injured and the next of the kin of those killed in the accidents.

Two accidents occurred within two days at the RSP during the construction work for the modernisation of the plant leading to the deaths of two workers. While on Friday one worker lost his life, on Sunday a contractual labourer was killed and another seriously injured.

Drawing the attention of the Union Steel Minister to the two incidents, Patnaik said that since the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is the largest steelmaker in the country and is a Maharatna company, it is expected that the authorities would be adhering world-class safety standards.

"Unless this is done, we may see recurrence of such tragic incidents which is just not acceptable in this age," he added.

Rourkela to be Municipal Corporation

The process of upgrading Rourkela Municipality to a Corporation has gained momentum in the recent times. A proposal regarding this was unanimously passed in a monthly meeting held at the Municipality Office on Wednesday.

The meet which was held in the Assembly Hall of Rourkela Municipality and was presided by Chairperson Smt. Rashmibala Mishra had discussions on several issues like upgrading Rourkela Municipality into a Corporation by including several regions of South Rourkela, repairing of PHED water pipes, water supply to each and every ward, improving sanitation facilities etc. Noted lawyer and Councilor Shri Ramesh Bal forwarded the proposal of Municipal Corporation stating that Rourkela Municipality has around 2.73 lakhs of population and by including South Rourkela it will rise up to 3.25 lakhs, which satisfies the criterea. Since South Rourkela doesn't comes under the administration of either Municipality or Gram Panchayat, it is devoid of any basic amenities, which creates a lot of problem for the people residing there.
Replying to the proposal EO Shri Bijay Swain informed that the State has been informed of the proposal , through the District Collector, to which Shri Bal demanded that Rourkela MLA and Urban Development Minister Shri Sarada Nayak should take appropriate steps so that the people of Rourkela can get Municipal Corporation as a New Year Gift. After prolonged discussion, this proposal was passed with everbody's consent.

DTDS to Launch Per-Seat Air Charter Services to Jamshedpur, Rourkela & Patna from Kolkata

DTDS Air Charter services to bring India's Steel cities on the air map, through comfortable "Same - Day - Return" services that save time & boost productivity.

A report from INDIAPRWIRE

Bengaluru, Karnataka, November 26, 2011 /India PRwire/ -- DTDS announced plans to launch "Per Seat" Air Charter Services to industrial cities from Kolkata where passengers can book single seats on fixed rates and fly at fixed charter timings. This is the first time in India that a "Per Seat", fixed cost, fixed schedule, chartered air service connectivity is offered for Industrial cities like Jamshedpur and Rourkela.

Business travelers from across India can now expect to travel in the style and comfort of modern Charter planes to Jamshedpur & Rourkela, attend work and return back the same day. Designed to save businesses time & money, improve connectivity through comfortable "Same - Day - Return" services, DTDS operations in the first phase will bring India's Steel cities not having scheduled commercial flights, on the air map.

DTDS "Per Seat" Charter Services offer convenience and productivity to business travelers to Patna, Rourkela and Jamshedpur from anywhere in India or abroad. "Travelers from across India can fly to these Industrial cities and return same day for dinner with family" says Leslie Marcar, Head - Air Charter Services.

"DTDS charter flight timings connect morning flights reaching Kolkata from Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi so travelers to Jamshedpur and Rourkela from anywhere in India or abroad, can reach destinations in shortest time and catch connecting evening flights back home. DTDS 'Per Seat' charter service opens up new connectivity options for not only Suppliers, Ancillaries, MNCs, SME & Corporate Businesses but even doctors, patients, students and domestic or international tourists from these cities who will benefit greatly from our affordable air connectivity ex Kolkata or ex Patna, to Metro cities across India" adds Marcar.

Notes to Editor

About DTDS Travel & Tour Planner Pvt. Ltd.

DTDS Travel & Tour Planner Pvt. Ltd., is a pioneer in 'Per Seat' Air Charter Services in India and services clients from its offices in Kolkata, Bangalore, Rourkela, Jamshedpur. DTDS service are available from the convenience of online bookings from its website www.dtdsindia.com and allow travelers to easily select their flights and book & pay for their seat tickets online pay using a credit or debit cards.

For more information, visit DTDS website : www.dtdsindia.com

Chennai Sports Organisers to own Chennai team in WSH

Telegraph reports

NEW DELHI: Chennai Sports Organisers Pvt Ltd (CSO) has been named the franchise owner of the Chennai team in the multi-million dollar World Series Hockey league to be played across various cities of the country starting next month.

The Chennai-based outfit will be called 'Chennai Cheetahs'.

"It is a matter of great pride to own a franchise in the prestigious World Series Hockey. Chennai has always had a strong sports culture and we are committed to strengthen the talent pool of hockey players," CSO Director L T Nanwani said.

"India has a strong hockey legacy and we will strive towards bringing the glory back. This is the first step for CSO and in the near future, we will expand our sports business by investing in multiple sports to create greater local connect with the fans," he added.

Nanwani is also the director and promoter of Jubilee Granites, a leading mining company in South India that exclusively owns products like 'Black' and 'Black Galaxy' granite.

Announcing the first franchise owner of the league, Yannick Colaco, chief operating officer of Nimbus Sport, one of the promoters of the event along with Indian Hockey Federation, said, "WSH has been very selective in identifying franchise owners who are passionate about hockey and share the common vision of creating a strong and viable ecosystem for the sport in India."

The WSH, to be held from December 17 to January 22, will involve 200 leading players from India and abroad who will showcase their talent in 61 matches.

It will be a multi-city franchise-based league with players being allocated to the teams based on the internationally accepted 'draft' system.

The inaugural edition of WSH will comprise eight teams out of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Punjab, Ranchi and Rourkela.

Biju Patnaik tech varsity VC gheraoed

A report from Times of India

ROURKELA: A delegation of Biju Pattnaik University of Technology (BPUT) action committee gheraoed BPUT vice-chancellor J N Satapathy here on Monday, minutes before the start of the varsity's third foundation day programme.

The delegation was strongly protesting lack of progress in construction of BPUT headquarter in Rourkela, and handed over a copy of a memorandum in this connection to the vice-chancellor.

The delegation, which included its convener M D Parija, former Rourkela MLA and senior Congress leader Pravat Mohapatra, former Rourkela municipality chairman Ramesh Bal and BJP Rourkela unit president Dhiren Senapati, did not allow the vice-chancellor to enter the function hall as they sat on the floor in front of the entrance gate.

The sit-in continued for about an hour and the VC was finally allowed to go after giving a written assurance that he will meet the members of the BPUT action committee and reply to the points raised in their memorandum.

The memorandum informed that about 139 acres of encroachment-free land was handed over to BPUT at Chhend, Rourkela, for construction of its headquarters.

"The foundation stone of the headquarter was laid on May 15, 2002 by the then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam in the presence of chief minister Naveen Pattnaik, which had given hope to the residents of Rourkela that the prestigious university headquarter, once set up here, will enhance the status of the city," the memorandum said.

"But with construction of the headquarter still to be completed, it has become a matter of great regret that the university is yet to take off," the memorandum added.

"We understand that there has been no fund crisis for construction of the building since the BPUT has already accumulated a good amount of funds, collected from each student during admission," the memorandum pointed out further.

The BPUT vice-chancellor, however, blamed the stalemate on some payment anomalies.

"The construction work of BPUT headquarter was stopped due to a problem in the payment of the architect after an objection of the finance officer of the university, since the architect had stopped providing the necessary drawings for the construction," said Satapathy.

Travel plans off track for 55hrs Route rejig for bridge repair

A report from The Telegraph

Bound for Mumbai? Halt in your tracks.

Train services on the Howrah-Mumbai route will remain affected for the next two days owing to urgent replacement of girders of a bridge between Posaita and Goelkera stations under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway.

This unprecedented hurdle, which began on Sunday evening and is expected to last 55 hours, is compelling a dozen-odd long-distance trains, including the Howrah-Ahmedabad Express, the Tata-Alleppy Express, the Jnaneswari Express, the Howrah-Hapa Express and the Sambleshwari Express, to run on a diverted route. Most of these superfast trains are plying via Chandil, Muri, Hatia and Rourkela.

“Several trains have been diverted, while a few passenger trains will be cancelled for the next two days. Some others running in the Chakradharpur division will also have to be short-terminated,” said Rajendra Prasad, the station manager-in-charge at Tatanagar.

According to Prasad, the Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express will be short-terminated at Chakradharpur station on November 21 and 22. On its return journey, the train will leave from Chakradharpur instead of Titlagarh.

On the other hand, the Chakradharpur-Rourkela and Tata-Bilaspur Passenger will remain cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. The few trains that will continue on their usual route include Mumbai Mail, Geetanjali Express, Howrah-Pune Azad Hind Express, Tata-Patna South Bihar Express and Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express.

The railway authorities said that the “mega block” was happening for the first time in Chakradharpur division and they had taken necessary measures to ensure that passengers were not greatly inconvenienced.

“An additional ticket counter has been opened at Tatanagar. In case trains are delayed by over three hours, passengers can opt for ticket refund. Due to the mega block, most trains will run behind scheduled for the next three days,” a senior official of Chakradharpur railway division said.

Railway officials at the enquiry office said they were having a tough time answering queries of harrowed passengers though the altered routes and names and numbers of short-terminated and cancelled trains were being announced at regular intervals.

“Enquiries for different destinations are pouring in since morning. Another official had to be deputed at the counter to take care of things,” said one of them.

He added that the railway authorities had issued a circular, stating that services on the route would remain affected till 3pm on Tuesday.

Passengers said they had either dropped or shelved their travel plans.

“I was supposed to travel to Titlagarh tomorrow. When I came to buy my ticket at Tatanagar, I was alerted that my train would be short-terminated at Chakradharpur. I was going to Titlagarh for the first time and thought it better not to take chances. I will travel once the train services become normal,” said Amitabh Senapati, a Jamshedpur student activist.

M.V. Rao, a schoolteacher, also dropped his plan to visit Rourkela by train since the Tata-Alleppy Express was diverted. “The train will travel via Chandil and will not touch Rourkela,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar-bound Rajdhani Express was delayed by over 12 hours on Sunday. The train is expected at Tatanagar at 10.30pm instead of 10.30am. Foggy weather has been stated to be the reason behind the delay.

Raghunath Mohanty asks Industrial houses to help government raise growth rate

Economic Times reports

ROURKELA: Odisha government has claimed to have taken special measures with focus on value addition of mineral resources in order to boost economic growth and said industries must play a key role in this direction.

This was stated by state Industries and Steel and Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty at a function marking the golden jubilee celebrations of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) here last night.

The minister said all industrial houses and general public should extend their cooperation to the government to raise overall growth of the state to double digit by 2012-13.

Efforts are underway to make it mandatory for private mining lease holders to provide 70 per cent of the iron ore to state based industries for domestic consumption and Odisha Mining Corporation would ensure supply of 80 per cent of its production to industries in Sundargarh District, he said.

All possible support would be extended to Sundargarh presently facing industrial slowdown and necessary measures would also be taken to tide over the problems due to high cost of iron ore, the minister said adding he would take up the issue of increase power tariff with higher officials.

The scarcity of coal supply would be sorted out and the government was contemplating suitable amendment through a deal for effective regulation of ground water he said.

The government envisages economic progress through industrial expansion and agriculture development and plans are afoot for industrial parks, auto complex, and food processing parks in the state.

The big industrial houses should create conditions for setting up of downstream industries as state government has been laying adequate thrust on small and medium industries in the state, the minister said.

However, he admitted that land acquisition, pollution control, smooth implementation, R and R policy and quality technical institutions continue to be major challenges.

Earlier, RCCI members highlighted hindrances to industrial growth of the district including bad roads, inadequate rail infrastructure, absence of air connectivity, rising cost of raw materials and power.

State may lose out on IIM on 12th Plan period

Daily Pioneer reports

Chances of Odisha having an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the Twelfth Plan period look bleak.

Sources in the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development say the Ministry will be recommending four new IITs but no new IIMs in the Twelfth Plan period. With four new IITs, as many major States will have an IIT each.

However, the proposed plan to have no new IIMs means Odisha and a few other States will lose out on the IIMs. In 2008, when eight new IITs and seven new IIMs were announced, it was proposed that each of those States would have a new IIT or a new IIM, not both. A State which got an IIM last time and does not already have an IIT will now get an IIT.

But since the 12th plan will not have any new IIMs, Odisha will miss an IIM. It is high time the Odisha Government pursued with the Planning Commission and the Prime Minister against such injustice to the State, pointed out leading NRO (non-resident Odia) Chitta Baral, who teaches at the Arizona State University in the US.

Given the large-scale investment in the industrial sector, the requirement of management graduates in Odisha has gone up manifold. While the XIMB has opened the facility here in the mid-80s, several management outfits have come up during the intervening period.

However, the State needs an IIM, and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, justified the demand by highlighting the massive investments lined up in the State’s industrial and other sectors.

Patnaik said an IIM is imperative to develop requisite human resources in the State. The Chief Minister had also impressed upon Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to set up a Central Government management institute in the State. He has all along assured that the State Government would provide the requisite land and other infrastructure for the purpose.

Now, it seems once again the State Government would have to press hard with the Union Government and the Planning Commission to earmark an IIM for Odisha, said Baral.

Improving Railway connectivity from Rourkela to South India

South India has always attracted people from all over the country in terms of job and education. Major IT hubs and a number of good educational institutes are present all over the region, the major being Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. A number of people from Rourkela as well as rest of Odisha work in these places. So the connectivity to these places needs to be improved, the measures are as follows

IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY TO CHENNAI

Currently Rourkela-Chennai by Dhanbad/Tata-Alleppey is 1449 kms and it takes 32 hours.The journey is tiresome and hectic, the train is nothing more than a crawler till it crosses Andhra Pradesh into Tamil Nadu. This train stops at almost every station on its way just like a passenger train and is the first preference of locals in Andhra. It is always overcrowded and even AC coaches are not spared, what to talk of Sleeper and General Class. This train departs before Hatia/Tata-Yesvantpur from Vizianagram but reaches after Hatia-Yesvantpur at Visakhapatnam (Tata-Yesvantpur bypasses Visakhapatnam).

The distance between Bhubaneswar and Chennai is 1226 kms. which is covered in 21 hours 25 mins by Howrah-Chennai Mail, and in 20 hours 55 mins by Bhubaneswar-Chennai Express. If a superfast Express between Rourkela and Chennai is proposed then it can take the timing of Bhubaneswar-Chennai Express from Visakhapatnam. The total time in this journey will be around 25 hours 55 mins.

IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY TO BANGALORE

The route Rourkela-Yesvantpur is 1737 kms and is covered by 31 hours 55 mins by Hatia/Tata-Yesvantpur Express.(It includes 255 kms. of non-stop running between Vijayawada and Nellore by Hatia-Yesvantpur Express). The distance between Nellore and Gudur is 39 kms. however the slot assigned between these stations is 1 hour 19 mins., which should be reduced.



And another interesting fact is that most of the time these trains reach their stations much before their scheduled time,say 30 mins, and have to wait until their original departure time. This happened once at Gudur, when the train reached there at 7:50 pm and had to wait till 8:15 pm, the stop being only of 2 mins.During a journey 1.5 hours was lost in waiting at stations, howver the train was able to reach at its destination at time. This train can complete the journey in 28 hours 40 mins. or utmost 30 hours.The frequency of these trains need to be increased so that the whole of Western Odisha gets daily availablity to Bangalore.

I FEEL THAT THERE IS NO RESERVATION QUOTA,FOR PASSENGERS FROM ODISHA IN BANGALORE BOUND TRAINS. First the seats from Ranchi and Jamshedpur are filled up then the remaining seats are given to Odisha passengers. Most of the time people have to travel by getting Tatkal accomodation. thus paying more than their Jharkhand counterparts and adding more revenue to the Railways. Hence sufficient number of seats should be made available to the passengers of Odisha.

Further the coaches provided in Hatia-Yesvantpur Express are old, shabby and in a tottering condition. New rakes should be provided for this train.


Most of the trains going to Bangalore from Bhubaneswar take the route via Chennai which is about 1588 kms. and is covered in 28 hours 10 mins. while the same is covered by Prashanti Express in 30 hours 25 mins via Guntur,Guntakal,Dharamavaram ,Sri Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam ,which is about 1638 kms

The superfast Bhubaneswar-Yesvantpur (via Renigunta,Tirupati,Chittoor,Katpadi) takes just 27 hours 30 mins to reach its destination covering a distance of 1518 kms.

If a superfast between Rourkela and Bangalore City via Chennai is proposed then it will take 1449 kms.+362 kms. = 1811 kms. and the total journey time will be around 29 hours.( 23 hours to Chennai and 6 hours to Bangalore)

Korba-Yesvantpur Wainganga Express via Bilaspur,Raipur and Kacheguda (Hyderabad) takes 30 hours 50 mins to cover a distance of 1602 kms. It takes 27 hours 45 mins to cover 1513 kms. between Bilaspur and Yesvantpur. If a superfast between Rourkela and Bangalore City is proposed then it will cover 1519+306= 1825 kms. in 33 hours 30 minutes.

So compiling all the above given facts, the conclusions are

 Increase the frequency of Hatia-Yesvantpur Express to 4 days a week and Tata-Yesvantpur Express to 3 days a week

 Introduce a Weekly Rourkela-Yesvantpur Superfast Express on the same timing of Hatia/Tata-Yesvantpur Express

 Introduce a Weekly Rourkela-Bangalore City Superfast Express on the same timing slot of Korba-Yesvantpur Wainganga Express. This will connect Hyderabad and Bangalore with Rourkela

 Introduce Biweekly Rourkela-Chennai Superfast Express on the timings of Bhubaneswar-Chennai Express from Visakhapatnam. This can also run up to Bangalore via Chennai

 Enroute Guwahati-Chennai Express or any train from North East or Bihar to Chennai to go via Rourkela,Jharsuguda,Sambalpur, Titlagarh,Rayagada, Vizianagram, Visakhaptnam/Duvada, twice a week. It should be noted that two Guwahati-Chennai Express travel via Tatanagar ,twice a week

By implementing any two of the above mentioned measures we can improve the connectivity of Rourkela with South India to a large extent.

Choudwar-Rourkela Industrial Corridor begins

IBNlive reports

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has started work on development of a railway corridor through Choudwar to Rourkela to allow ease of inward and outward transportation of goods from the industrial hubs and mining belts along the region.

Land acquisition for the project, the first of its kind initiative by a state government, has already been initiated by the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco). The project would go on ground after the land acquisition and is targeted to be completed by 2015, said Idco CMD Priyabrata Patnaik on Friday.

The corridor involves development of extensive rail and road connectivity, along with provisioning of water supply and other infrastructural facilities. The corridor would encompass two track railway lines and six-lane road passing through the industrial hubs and the coal mining belts. New industrial areas and downstream units would be developed along the corridor.

Common infrastructure facilities under the corridor would solve the problems of inward and outward transportation of goods and minerals. The stretch would pass through the heart of coal mining operations in the state, which harbours about 65 billion tonne of reserves. The coal reserves in the Talcher belt only is around 43 billion tonne.

The corridor would cover 17 large and mega-industries, along with 57 other units, through the stretch from Choudwar to Rourkela. Traffic projection on the route is given out as 8.7 million tonne.

The route would have 163 km of railway track length and 465 km on road. As many as 308 minor bridges and 77 major bridges would have to be constructed on it, said Patnaik.

Jareikela station lies in neglect

News from IBNlive

ROURKELA: Declared abandoned in 2006, the dilapidated railway station building at Jareikela in Sundargarh district, bordering Jharkhand, poses serious threat to the lives of employees and passengers.

�Ironically, there is no obvious reason for the inordinate delay in setting up the proposed new building by the Chakradharpur Division of the South Eastern Railway (SER).

�The nondescript Jareikela station, about 30 km from Rourkela, falls in the Maoist-hit Bisra block. The existing station building is one of the oldest with asbestos roof. It houses the office, ticket counter, rest room and track signal system. The walls have developed wide cracks and the artificial ceiling is dilapidated.

Nearly a dozen SER staff in different shifts fear for their lives while on duty.

When rain lashed the area for days together last month, they feared that the structure would cave in. An old giant tree at the backyard is also leaning dangerously on the weak structure.

�Local weaver of Kopsingha village in Jareikela gram panchayat, Somnath Raha said the SER seems to have no concern for innocent lives. Expressing surprise at the whimsical attitude of the SER, he said while the platform floor is being laid with new tiles, there is no sign of a new building.

�Chakradharpur-based SER spokesperson AK Haldar promised that the Division would probe the matter for immediate corrective measures.

�SER sources said the record of the present ongoing construction project does not reflect the new station building plan.

BSLC halts limestone, dolomite production on green concerns

A report in Economic Times

ROURKELA: State-run Bisra Stone Lime Company (BSLC) has stopped production of limestone and dolomite following a directive from the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB).

Company sources said mining operations had to be stopped last week following the direction of the OSPCB, Bhubaneswar, after environment clearance for the mining sites expired on March 31, 2011.

OSPCB had issued a letter on November 9 mentioning that consent to operate cannot be considered because the company has not submitted the environment clearance in respect of their mines, they said.

However, BSLC claimed it has got all the valid mining papers and requested the OSPCB to issue consent to operate on the basis of the valid environment clearance for 18,000 tonnes of production per month.

Due to the halt in production, the century-old BSLC has been facing difficulties in supplying material to customers like Steel Authority of India Limited and Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited, sources said.

The company, meanwhile, has applied to the State Pollution Control Board for renewal of environment clearance for the mines after meeting all criteria, they said.

BSLC Mining Operations Chief Anup Bage said there was no forest land in its mining area and the company has been planting trees in its area regularly to keep the surroundings pollution free, with a green cover.

The company has also been making payment of royalty and abiding by all statutory rules of the state government.

Meanwhile, Independent MLA from Biramitrapur George Tirkey has demanded immediate steps for resumption of production by BSLC at Biramitrapur, in Sundargarh district, as about 25,000 persons -- including more than 1,000 regular employees -- depend on the company for a living.

Moreover, the company is situated in a tribal area and more than 80 per cent of its employees are tribals.

150 Indian players sign up for WSH

Report from IBNlive

Mumbai: Notwithstanding the Hockey India diktat asking players to either stay away from the World Series Hockey (WSH) or risk losing their place in the national side, the current Indian team members have signed on and received advanced payments to play in the league beginning next month.

A total of 150 Indian players, including all the top stars from the present national side, have virtually signed a three-year-contract with the organisers of the league to be played across different cities of the country from December 17 to January 22.

WSH is a lucrative franchise-based event organised by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sports. IHF is not affiliated to the FIH and the world body recognises Hockey India (HI) as the national federation.
The tournament has been in the centre of the 'club vs country' controversy.

The tournament has been in the centre of the 'club vs country' controversy as it is not a FIH-sanctioned event.

FIH has also threatened to bar the players from its future tournaments if they take part in WSH. The world body has suggested the players to wait till 2013 when FIH and Hockey India launch their own world league.

A media release from the organisers on Thursday claimed that veteran forwards Arjun Halappa and Prabhjot Singh, goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza and mid-fielder Sardar Singh have been signed up by the organisers to play in the tournament that would feature eight franchise teams for 61 matches.

These players will be captains in the inaugural edition of the tournament.

The other Indian players include ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, current captain Rajpal Singh, goalkeeper Bharat Chetri and emerging champion Yuvraj Walmiki, who dazzled with his tournament-winning goal at the Asian Champions Challenge.

WSH also marks the comeback of former players Viren Rasquinha and Dhanraj Pillay.

The league will also see the participation of Gurjinder Singh, the India U-21 captain, 19-year-old forward Kangujam Chinglensana Singh, forward Victo Singh and the best player of the last National Games, S K Uthappa.

Prominent international players who are on the roster include Baljeet Singh, Deepak Thakur, Dhananjay Mahadik, Diwakar Ram, Gurbaj Singh, Mandeep Antil, Prabodh Tirkey, Roshan Minz, Shivendra Singh, S V Sunil, Tushar Khandker, and William Xalxo.

"I am really excited about playing in the inaugural edition of World Series Hockey. It's a great initiative for the sport of hockey and I can't wait to play alongside the best hockey players from India and around the world," said Prabhjot Singh.

Karl Da Costa, Deputy General Manager, Nimbus Sport, said, "We are proud to announce the participation of all the star Indian players in World Series Hockey. One of the key focus areas for the league is to fortify the talent pool of hockey in India and it will be a splendid display of skill as our Indian champions will play with global superstars."

The WSH will involve 200 leading players - Indian and international - who will showcase their talent in 61 matches.

It will be a multi-city franchise-based league with players being allocated to the teams based on the internationally accepted and practised 'draft' system.

The inaugural edition of the league, with a total prize money of approximately USD two million, will comprise eight teams out of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Pune, Bhopal, Punjab, Ranchi and Rourkela.

Night trains may get green signal in Red Zone

Report from IBNlive

ROURKELA: Night trains chugging through the busy Howrah-Mumbai route of the South Eastern Railways (SER) may soon become a reality here if the news percolating from top railway and security officials is any indication. There has been a restriction on night trains along Rourkela-Kharagpur section following Maoist attacks. However, there has been no official word from the SER on the decision.
Sources said the Railway Ministry, under tremendous public pressure, has decided to re-run trains at night. The move was backed by several rounds of meetings by security forces of Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal in the last fortnight. They reportedly have given safety clearance prompting the Railway Ministry to give a green signal.
Train services between 10 pm and 5 am on the Rourkela-Kharagpur and Kharagpur-Adra sections of the SER have been suspended since May 28 last year after Maoists allegedly blew up tracks in Bengal to derail the Jnaneswari Express leading to heavy casualties.
While restriction on the Kharagpur-Adra section was removed recently, any decision on the Rourkela-Kharagpur section lingered till recently.
The Kolkata-based CDPO Soumitra Majumdar said any written communication to this effect is awaited from the Railway Board. Similarly, Sundargarh Collector Rupa Roshan Sahu said her office is yet to receive any communication.
Jharkhand’s Chaibasa-based DIG Naveen Singh said in larger public interest trains should run at night, adding they have time and again assured the railways of necessary security. Rourkela SP Himanshu Lal asserted that adequate security will be ensured.
Officials requesting anonymity said night train services are likely to be restored in a few days.
The decision follows the recent visit of the Parliament Railway Convention Committee to Rourkela.

Repair works on Howrah-Mumbai mainline, Trains to be affected

Rail movement on Howrah-Mumbai mainline is likely to be affected on 21st and 22nd of this month, due to repairing of Bridge no.206(DN) on Goilkera-Posoita section of Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway. According to sources, Train no. 58115/58116 Chakradharpur-Rourkela-Chakradharpur Saranda Passenger has been cancelled for two days while Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express and Bilaspur-Tatanagar Special have been short terminated.Services of Ispat Express has been suspended between Chakradharpur and Rourkela, and this train will ply between Howrah and Chakradharpur as 12871 and return from Chakradharpur to Howrah as 12872.The same will also apply between Rourkela and Titlagarh. 08114 Bilaspur-Tatanagar Passenger will originate from Rourkela and will ply to Bilaspur.

Some trains plying between Rourkela and Howrah/Tatanagar have been diverted,especially those running on down line. These trains will be diverted via Hatia-Muri-Koteshila-Purulia-Chandil-Tatanagar on 21st and 22nd November. 18189/18190 Tata-Alleppey Express is on this list while its counterpart 13351/13352 Dhanbad-Alleppey Express has been rescheduled.Similarly 18029 Lokmanya Tilak(T)-Shalimar Express which will depart on 19th from LTT, will be diverted via Hatia-Muri on 21st November. 12833 Ahmedabad-Howrah Express departing on 19th and 20th November will be diverted via Hatia-Muri to reach Tatanagar on 21st and 22nd November. Other trains like 12905 Porbandar-Howrah Express and 18006 Koraput-Howrah Samaleswari Express have also been rescheduled.Railway authorities have been directed to handle the situation arising of this rescheduling and have been instructed to complete the repair works as soon as possible.

Why Rourkela Division should be constituted immedietly?

This post is based on how a Railway Zone known as South Eastern Railways has exploited the mineral rich industrial region of Odisha, and has always pursued a biased attitude towards the development of the state.

Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Kendujhargarh districts of Odisha , account for the huge revenue generated by Chakradharpur Division and hence also for South Eastern Railway Zone, but unfortunately remain the most neglected regions in comparison to rail connectivity and facilities in the other part of the country.

Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway has emerged as the highest revenue generating division in the country, a number of times. The sole reason for this is notable achievement is the mineral rich Chotanagpur Plateau region popularly known as “Ruhr of India” due to its innumerable industries. This region comprises of the mineral rich Sundargarh,Kendujhargarh and Jharsuguda Districts of Odisha from where Iron Ore and other minerals are transported throughout the country.

The region also has a number of heavy industries like Rourkela Steel Plant, Rourkela; OCL-Rajgangpur; Tata Refractories, Belpahar,Adhunik Metalliks-Rourkela; L&T- Kansbahal, Bhusan Steel and Powers –Jharsuguda; Vedanta-Jharsuguda; GOCL,Rourkela etc. which pay a huge amount to the railways for transportation of raw materials as well as finished products. Hence a lot of freight activity is noticed in this region.

Odisha state has got 2495 kms. of railway route, of which 337 kms. the highest in the state, passes through Sundargarh District. Only Sundargarh district generates about Rs 800 crores annually, which accounts for 40% of the total revenue generated by Chakradharpur Division. Similarly Jharsuguda is an emerging industrial hub with a number of operating mega projects, while a number of industries are in the offing. Kendujhargarh is popular for its innumerous mines.
So its natural that the people will have high expectations from the Railway Budget every year but most of the times they are met with empty hands.
I. The figures mentioned here are a comparison between the major cities in the region,which are administered by South Eastern Railways i.e. Rourkela, Jamshedpur (Tatanagar) and Ranchi.

City Total Number of Express
Trains
Ranchi 35
Rourkela 30
Tatanagar 37


City Total Number of Express
Trains Terminating
Ranchi 28
Rourkela 02
Tatanagar 06

City Total Frequency
Ranchi 134
Rourkela 132
Tatanagar 166

City Weekly Aavailability
At Stations
Ranchi 268
Rourkela 264
Tatanagar 332


II. List of Express Trains that have been introduced/extended from/to Ranchi, Tatanagar and Rourkela in the last 10 years

RANCHI

Hatia-Lokmanya Tilak(T) Express
Ranchi-Patna Janshatabdi Express
Ranchi-Bhagalpur Vananchal Express
Ranchi-Jaynagar Express
Puri-Hatia Tapaswini Express
Hatia-Patna Express
Ranchi-Dhanbad Intercity Express
Hatia-Yesvantpur Express
Ranchi-Varanasi/Ajmer Garib Nawaz Express
Ranchi-New Delhi Jharkhand Sampark Kranti Express
Ranchi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, via Gomoh
Ranchi-Chopan Express
Ranchi-New Delhi Garib Rath Express
Guwahati-Ranchi Express
Howrah-Ranchi Express via Dhanbad
Hatia-Bhubaneswar Garib Rath Express ( Now Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar Garib Rath Express)
Howrah-Ranchi Express via Kharagpur
Ranchi-Pune Express

ROURKELA

Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Intercity Express
Rourkela-Koraput Express

TATANAGAR

Tata-Yesvantpur Express
Tatanagar-Amritsar Jallianwalabagh Express
Dhanbad-Tatanagar Subarnarekha Express
Asansol-Tatanagar Express



III. Other trains which have been introduced during this period via these stations

RANCHI

Sambalpur-Varanasi Express
Darbhanga-Hyderabad Express

ROURKELA

Howrah-Lokmanya Tilak(T) Samarsata Express
Howrah-Lokmanya Tilak(T) Jnaneswari Express
Hatia-Lokmanya Tialk(T) Express
Howrah-Mumbai Express
Guwahati-Lokmanya Tilak(T) Karmabhoomi Express
Howrah-Shirdi Sai Nagar Express
Hatia-Yesvantpur Express
Dhanbad-Hatia-Bhubaneswar Garib Rath Express
Sambalpur-Varanasi Express
Hyderabad-Darbhanga Express
Santragachi-Hazur Sahib Nanded Express
Santragachi-Porbandar Kavi Guru Express
Ranchi-Pune Express
Shalimar-Udaipur Express

TATANAGAR

Howrah-Lokmanya Tilak(T) Jnaneswari Express
Howrah-Mumbai Express
Guwahati-Lokmanya Tilak(T) Karmabhoomi Express
Howrah-Shirdi Sai Nagar Express
Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express via Tatanagar
Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Odisha Sampark Kranti Express
Shalimar Gorakhpur Express
Santragachi-Hazur Sahib Nanded Express
Santragachi-Porbandar Kavi Guru Express
Shalimar-Udaipur Express
Howrah-Ranchi Express via Kharagpur
Howrah-Barbil Janshatabdi Express
Howrah-Purulia Express

IV. If connectivity of Rourkela to the National Capital is considered , then Rourkela is far behind its counterparts. Only one train i.e. Kalinga Utkal Express which runs between Puri and Haridwar is the sole connectivity to the national capital from the Steel City. However this train bears the brunt of any insurgent activity or any natural calamity in the region. More than a year has passed, this train has not touched Rourkela, after the disastrous Jnaneswari Express mishap on 28th May 2010.
Here is an interesting comparison of different steel cities of India and their connectivity with Delhi

City/Urban Complex No. of Trains No. of Exclusive Trains
Asansol-Durgapur 12 00
Bokaro Steel City 06 00
Durg-Bhilainagar 05 01
Rourkela 01 00
Tatanagar 06 01
Visakhapatnam 04 04

It should be noted that out of the 6 trains from Tatanagar to Delhi, 5 trains are from Odisha (including Rajdhani and Sampark Kranti)! Instead of catering to the needs of the people of the state, these trains are used to satisfy the neighboring Jharkhand State.


V. If we consider the case of local commuter trains, then perhaps Odisha is the only state which is devoid of such service. It should be noted that a number of local trains operate in the neighboring states of Chhattisgarh,Jharkhand, West Bengal,Andhra Pradesh, Bihar etc. but not in Odisha. (A compensatory service operates between Balasore and Kharagpur only).

South Eastern Railway,gets its maximum revenue from Odisha, utilizes. this huge revenue for the betterment of the neighboring states.. Maximum number of EMU/MEMU /DEMU local trains operate in Kharagpur Division only.

While Chakradharpur Division operates 3 pair MEMU Local trains between Kharagpur and Tata; 1 pair of trains between Muri and Tata and another pair between Asansol and Tata , no such service operates in Odisha, from where this division gets its lion’s share revenue.



Following is the list of some local trains operating in South Eastern Railways

MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) Passenger trains

 Howrah-Kharagpur : 116 kms. (2 pairs)

 Tata-Kharagpur :134 kms.(3 pairs)

 Midnapore-Howrah : 129 kms.

 Midnapore-Jhargram : 52 kms.

 Muri-Tata :104 kms.

 Muri-Ranchi : 65 kms

 Tata-Asansol : 119 kms.

 Adra-Purulia :41 kms.

 Adra-Asansol :50 kms.

 Adra-Bankura : 53 kms.

 Adra-Midnapore : 155 kms

 Balasore-Kharagpur : 116 kms

 Ranchi-Asansol : 227 kms..

 Jhargram-Purulia : 246 kms.

 Midnapore-Jhargarm : 52 kms.



DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Units) Passenger trains

 Digha-Santragachi

 Baripada-Rupsa-Balasore :70 kms. (2 pairs)

 Rupsa-Baripada

 Rupsa-Balasore

 Kharagpur-Jhargram ;39 kms

 Jhargram-Ghatsila : 59 kms.

It should be noted that Kharagpur-Midnapore MEMU Special train operates for a distance of only 13 kms. ! Also Rourkela-Sambalpur DMU has been officially downgraded to a pair of passenger trains i.e. Rourkela-Jharsuguda and Jharsuguda-Sambalpur. No such commuter train plies in Odisha part of East coast Railway , while many do ply in Andhra part of East Coast Railway.


VI. Construction and survey of new railway lines has not been taken up seriously in the region. The burning example is Talcher-Bimalagarh railway route which could have been a boon to the tribal districts of Sundargarh and Keonjhar is being overlooked since 1885 after the positive cost and benefit analysis.
This route could have proved a boon for the people North - east districts of Odisha as it could have accelerated the development of the region as well as improved connectivity to Coastal Odisha especially between Rourkela City and the capital city of Bhubaneswar. This route would also provide an easy access to Paradeep port from the Chotanagpur Industrial Belt . The cost of this Project was estimated to be Rs.810.78 crores. However with every passing year, this estimate is increasing it is now more than Rs.1000 crores. Now. the funding is much less for this project(about 25 crores.) and the current rate it will take more 20 years to be completed.
Similarly the survey for a new railway line between Bansapani and Barsuan via Bimalagarh and doubling of the track between Dumetra and Champajharan is to be carried on.

VII.No significant steps have been taken by South Eastern Railway, to improve the basic infrastructure in the region. Not even the staff quarters in the railway colonies are in good condition having frequent water and electricity problems. Even no significant education facilities have been provided by South Eastern Railways. Here is a list of such institutions.


Major Hospitals

Garden Reach Medical College and Hospital

Kharagpur Medical College and Hospital

Adra

Chakradharpur

Schools /Colleges/Educational Institutions

SER Mixed Higher Secondary School
S.E. Railway Boys’ Multipurpose High Secondary School
S.E. Railway Mixed High School (New Settlement)
Staff Training

Zonal Training Centre,Sini
Supervisory Training Centre, Kharagpur
S&T Training Centre, Kharagpur
Electrical Training Centre,Tatanagar
Electrical Training Centre, Rourkela
RPF Training Centre,Kharagpur
Major diesel Sheds

Visakhapatnam, Kharagpur and Bondamunda

Major Workshops

Kharagpur









In addition this, several new projects including educational institutions and training centers have been proposed in the last budget for Kharagpur only.
There was a proposal to set up a new 100 electric locomotive capacity shed at Bondamunda, but unfortunately that has been shifted to Kharagpur. Similarly the demand for a Railway Coach factory/ Wagon factory has not yielded any results.
So anyhow , South Eastern Railway has laid its lines in Odisha, not for the development of railway infrastructure of the state, but with the sole motive of exploiting it. As per the figures it can be concluded that the huge revenue generated by Odisha i.e. from the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Kendujhargarh is being utilized for the development of Kharagpur,Ranchi and Tatanagar.
Hence without any further delay these districts of Odisha should be freed from the clutches of South Eastern Railway, and should be included in East Coast Railway with a divisional headquarter at Rourkela.

Cuttack to be slum free under Rajiv Awaas Yojana ,Rourkela to follow

Daily Pioneer reports

REPL, one of the leading real estate consultancies, has been assigned to undertake a slum free planning city project in Cuttack by Cuttack Municipal Corporation under the ambit of a Central Government scheme Rajiv Awaas Yojana (RAY).

REPL has already worked on identification and redevelopment of slums for Bikaner in Rajasthan earlier.

The RAY aims at providing Central support to States that are willing to assign property rights to slum dwellers. A budget of `1,270 crore has been allocated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for the scheme for the year 2010-11. 30 cities across 16 States have been selected for initiating 'National Slum Free City' campaign.

REPL will be setting up a City Technical Cell at Cuttack with a team of six experts- MIS (Management Information Systems) specialist, GIS (Geographical Information System) specialist, town planning specialist, social development specialist, capacity building/training specialist and project/engineering specialist. The City Technical Cell is envisaged to play a critical role in implementation of the RAY.

Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is the State Level Nodal Agency ( SLNA) for implementation of the RAY in the selected cites of Odisha. It has proposed to set up separate City Technical Cell (CLTC) for the cities at Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Rourkela.

In this project, REPL will lay its expertise in providing the entire scope of services mentioned under the guidelines of the RAY. This would include preparation of city wide base map using satellite data.

This will aid in accurate identification, demarcation and categorisation of slum area and slum infrastructure along with any vacant lands available for future housing and relocation of the urban poor. This exercise will include the city fringes where the problem of sprawl is more pronounced.

REPL will also provide support to conduct household socio-economic and bio-metric surveys for identification of beneficiaries.