It is rather a paradox. I have also discussed it with you. Now there is one zone for Orissa and some parts of Andhra Pradesh. But a major portion of Orissa - look at our plight, Mr. Chairman! - which is very close to Sambalpur Division, is coming under Chakradharpur Railway Division. However hard we protest against it, nobody listens to us. I do not understand why this is happening. Now even people from Orissa and those nearer to Sambalpur will have to come to Garden Reach and not to Bhubaneswar to get their work done in zonal offices. Kindly, on priority, see that the whole of Orissa comes under the new zone. For that purpose the portion along Bombay-Hawrah main railway line starting from Bungomunda, Rourkela up to Brajrajnagar, Belpahar, that portion should be brought under the jurisdiction of Sambalpur Railway Division.

Sambalpur-Talcher railway line is the heartline of Orissa. This railway line is rescheduled and now they say that in 1997 it will be completed. Its foundation stone was laid in 1984 by Rajivji. Then it was boldly stated that within a period of five years it would be completed. All right, as per our standards, let us take ten years. In 1995 December also it was confirmed on the floor of the Parliament that it will be completed. But now it has been deferred to 1997. With the present rate of funding even during this century it will not be completed. As I understand, the Engineers there require Rs.50 crore more this year so that they can stick to the schedule of completion of 1997. Another Rs.50 crore during this financial year is the need for Sambalpur-Talcher railway line.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN (HAJIPUR):

¸ÉÒ ®úÉ¨É Ê´É±ÉÉºÉ {ÉÉºÉ´ÉÉxÉ : <ºÉ ºÉÉ±É ½þ¨É +É{ÉEòÉä 40 Eò®úÉäc÷ ¯û{ÉªÉä nùä ®ú½þä ½þèÆ*

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH):

¸ÉÒ ¸ÉÒ¤É±±É¦É {ÉÉÊhÉOÉ½þÒ (nùä´ÉMÉgø) : 40 Eò®úÉäc÷ ¯û{ÉªÉä +É{É nùä ®ú½þä ½þèÆ, ¤É½þÖiÉ vÉxªÉ´ÉÉnù, ±ÉäÊEòxÉ +É{ÉEòä <ÆVÉÒÊxÉªÉ®ú EòÒ ¨ÉÉÆMÉ ½þè,

The demand of your Engineers is another Rs.50 crore so as to enable them to stick to the schedule that you have fixed.

+É{ÉxÉä VÉÉä 1997 ¨ÉäÆ <ºÉEòÉä {ÉÚ®úÉ Eò®úxÉä Eòä Ê±ÉB ]õÉMÉÇä]õ Ê¡òEºÉ ÊEòªÉÉ ½þè, <ºÉ ´ÉÉºiÉä +É{ÉEòÉä <ºÉ ºÉÉ±É ¨ÉäÆ 40-50 Eò®úÉäc÷ ¯û{ÉªÉä +Éè®ú nùäxÉä SÉÉÊ½þB*

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN (HAJIPUR):

¸ÉÒ ®úÉ¨É Ê´É±ÉÉºÉ {ÉÉºÉ´ÉÉxÉ : <ºÉ ºÉÉ±É EòÒ ¤ÉÉiÉ ¨ÉèÆ +É{ÉEòÉä Eò½þ ®ú½þÉ ½þÚÆ*

I am giving you Rs.40 crore out of this Rs.170 crore.

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH):

¸ÉÒ ¸ÉÒ¤É±±É¦É {ÉÉÊhÉOÉ½þÒ (nùä´ÉMÉgø) : VÉÉä ¨ÉÉÆMÉ ½þè, ªÉ½þ Êb÷]õä±ºÉ iÉÉä <ºÉ¨ÉäÆ xÉ½þÒÆ ½þè xÉ, Êb÷]õä±ºÉ ¨ÉäÆ xÉ<Ç ±ÉÉ<xÉ Eò½þEò®ú ÊnùªÉÉ ½þè* <ºÉ¨ÉäÆ |ÉÉäVÉèE]õ´ÉÉ<WÉ xÉ½þÒÆ ½þè*

MR. CHAIRMAN (SHRI P.C. CHACKO): I think now you can conclude.

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH): Please give me five more minutes, Sir.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Your major demand is met.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN: Not just that; we will give more than that.

This line is very important. I agree with you on that. I have fixed the minimum target as Rs.40 crore; it might even go up to Rs.50 crore. ... (Interruptions)

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH): Sir, on the Jakhpura-Banspani line, there is an Exim Bank proposal. ... (Interruptions)

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN (HAJIPUR):

¸ÉÒ ®úÉ¨É Ê´É±ÉÉºÉ {ÉÉºÉ´ÉÉxÉ: ½þ¨ÉÉ®úä >ð{É®ú SÉÉVÉÇ ±ÉMÉÉiÉä ½þèÆ ÊEò ½þ¨É Eòä´É±É Ê¶É±ÉÉxªÉÉºÉ Eò®úEòä +É VÉÉiÉä ½þèÆ, ÊºÉ¡òÇ ºÉ´ÉÇä EòÉ =nPÉÉ]õxÉ ½þÒ Eò®úiÉä ½þèÆ* ½þ¨É BäºÉÉ xÉ½þÒÆ Eò®úiÉä, ½þ¨É {ÉÚ®úÉ EòÉ¨É Eò®úEòä ½þÒ =nPÉÉ]õxÉ Eò®úiÉä ½þèÆ*

MR. CHAIRMAN (SHRI P.C. CHACKO): I think, you can conclude in view of this generous offer.

PROF. RASA SINGH RAWAT (AJMER): You should be very grateful to the hon. Minister of Railways.

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH):

¸ÉÒ ¸ÉÒ¤É±±É¦É {ÉÉÊhÉOÉ½þÒ (nùä´ÉMÉgø): ½þ¨É {É½þ±Éä ½þÒ <ºÉEòÉä Eò½þ SÉÖEòä ½þèÆ ÊEò BÊEVÉ¨É ¤ÉèÆEò ºÉä ¤ÉÉiÉSÉÒiÉ ½þÉä ®ú½þÒ ½þè, =c÷ÒºÉÉ Eòä ¨ÉÖJªÉ ¨ÉÆjÉÒ xÉä ¦ÉÒ ¤ÉÉiÉ EòÒ ½þè* VÉMÉ{ÉÖ®úÉ-¤ÉÉÆºÉ{ÉÉhÉÒ VÉÉä ¨ÉÉ<ÊxÉÆMÉ ¤Éä±]õ ½þè, ¨ÉÆjÉÒ VÉÒ EòÉ ºÉ{ÉÉä]õÇ SÉÉÊ½þB, ®úä±´Éä ´ÉÉ±Éä {É®úºªÉÖ Eò®úäÆ, ½þ¨ÉÉ®úä {ÉÉºÉ {ÉèºÉÉ xÉ½þÒÆ ½þè, lÉÉäc÷É Ê±É¤É®ú±É ®úä]õ {É®ú ±ÉÉäxÉ Ê¨É±ÉxÉä ´ÉÉ±ÉÉ ½þè, =ºÉEòÉ ¤ÉÆnùÉä¤ÉºiÉ EòÒÊVÉB, =ºÉEòÉä ¡òÉ<xÉä±ÉÉ<VÉ Eò®úxÉÉ SÉÉÊ½þB* BÊEVÉ¨É ¤ÉèÆEò EòÉä |ÉÉlÉÊ¨ÉEòiÉÉ nùäxÉÒ SÉÉÊ½þB* ªÉ½þ {ÉÚ®úä ¦ÉÉ®úiÉ EòÒ |ÉMÉÊiÉ Eòä Ê±ÉB ½þè*

Then, we have the Angul-Duburi line. The internal revenue receipt of this line is 23.5 per cent, which is the highest in India.

<ºÉEòÉä Eò®úxÉä ºÉä nùÉä ºÉÉ±É ¨ÉäÆ ÊVÉiÉxÉÉ {ÉèºÉÉ <Æ´Éèº]õ Eò®úäÆMÉä, ´É½þ ±ÉÉè]õ +ÉªÉäMÉÉ*

There is also the Talcher-Kamakshyanagar line, which passes through forest area, tribal area, mining area, a survey for which was conducted long ago in 1970. This needs to be completed.

All the projects which have been referred to by hon. Members, Shri Anadi Charan Sahu and Shri Bhakta Charan Das have been moving at snail's pace and they should be accelerated.

On the Rajdhani Express, there was a demand that the frequency of the Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express should be raised from three days a week to everyday. The Utkal Express should have two stoppages at Garposh and Bagadihi.

Sir, I am closing my speech by making a request to the hon. Minister. No money is required to agree to this request. I do not know how the people in the Railway Board have changed unilaterally and arbitrarily the timings of the Sambalpur-Nizamuddin Hirakud Express. The old timings should be restored. In a normally peaceful place like Sambalpur, there have been agitations like `rail roko' because of this.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN: I am ready to change the time but you should not ask for the train to run on four days instead of three.

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH): Mr. Minister, Sir, when you raised the frequency, there was no condition attached on the timing.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN (HAJIPUR):

¸ÉÒ ®úÉ¨É Ê´É±ÉÉºÉ {ÉÉºÉ´ÉÉxÉ: ½þ¨É VÉÉxÉiÉä ½þèÆ +É{ÉEòÉ VÉÉä ºÉ¨ÉªÉ ½þè ´É½þ ºÉ½þÒ xÉ½þÒÆ ½þè, <ºÉºÉä ½þ¨É ºÉ½þ¨ÉiÉ ½þèÆ* ¨ÉèÆ +É{ÉEòÉ ºÉ¨ÉªÉ {É½þ±Éä ´ÉÉ±ÉÉ ºÉ¨ÉªÉ Eò®úxÉä {É®ú iÉèªÉÉ®ú ½þÚÆ* +É{É Eò½þäÆ iÉÉä ¨ÉèÆ Eò±É ½þÒ PÉÉä¹ÉhÉÉ Eò®úiÉÉ ½þÚÆ* ½þ¨ÉäÆ <ºÉ ¤ÉÉiÉ EòÉ b÷®ú ½þè ÊEò VÉÉä xÉªÉÉ ºÉ¨ÉªÉ ÊnùªÉÉ MÉªÉÉ ½þè, =ºÉ¨ÉäÆ iÉÒxÉ ÊnùxÉ Eòä ¤Énù±Éä SÉÉ®ú ªÉÉ {ÉÉÆSÉ ÊnùxÉ Eò®ú ÊnùªÉÉ MÉªÉÉ ½þè* +MÉ®ú +É{É {É½þ±Éä ´ÉÉ±ÉÉ iÉÒxÉ ÊnùxÉ EòÉ ½þÒ ®úJÉäÆ iÉÉä ¨ÉèÆ Eò±É ½þÒ SÉÉ±ÉÚ Eò®ú nùÚÆMÉÉ*

ºÉ¦ÉÉ{ÉÊiÉ ¨É½þÉänùªÉ: ¨ÉÆjÉÒ VÉÒ +É{É ¤ÉÉnù ¨ÉäÆ =iiÉ®ú nùäÆ, ´Éä |É´ÉÉäEò ½þÉä VÉÉiÉä ½þèÆ*

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH):

¸ÉÒ ¸ÉÒ¤É±±É¦É {ÉÉÊhÉOÉ½þÒ (nùä´ÉMÉgø): SÉÉ®ú ÊnùxÉ, +Éè®ú ªÉ½þ ºÉ¨ÉªÉ nùä nùäÆ* +É{ÉxÉä {É]õxÉÉ Eòä Ê±ÉB ¤É½þÖiÉ +SUôÉ EòÉ¨É ÊEòªÉÉ ½þè* ªÉ½þ `öÒEò ½þè ÊEò Ê¤É½þÉ®ú EòÉ¡òÒ ={ÉäÊIÉiÉ lÉÉ, VÉ¤ÉÊEò Ê¤É½þÉ®ú Eòä Eò<Ç ¨ÉÆjÉÒ ®ú½þ SÉÖEòä ½þèÆ* +É{ÉxÉä ´É½þÉÆ nùÉä-nùÉä ®úÉVÉvÉÉxÉÒ BEºÉ|ÉèºÉ nùä nùÒÆ* ±ÉäÊEòxÉ ½þ¨ÉÉ®úä Ê±ÉB iÉÒxÉ ÊnùxÉ EòÒ VÉMÉ½þ SÉÉ®ú ÊnùxÉ +Éè®ú ªÉ½þ ºÉ¨ÉªÉ Eò®ú nùäÆ* ½þ¨ÉÉ®úä ºÉÉlÉ +xªÉÉªÉ xÉ Eò®úäÆ*

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN (HAJIPUR):

¸ÉÒ ®úÉ¨É Ê´É±ÉÉºÉ {ÉÉºÉ´ÉÉxÉ: ºÉÉäSÉ ®ú½þä ½þèÆ*

SHRI SRIBALLAV PANIGRAHI (DEOGARH):

¸ÉÒ ¸ÉÒ¤É±±É¦É {ÉÉÊhÉOÉ½þÒ (nùä´ÉMÉgø): BäºÉÒ VÉÉä ]ÅäxÉ +ÉiÉÒ ½þèÆ, ´Éä ¨ÉvªÉ |Énùä¶É ºÉä +ÉiÉÒ ½þèÆ, ´Éä ®ú½þxÉä nùäÆ, ¤ÉÉEòÒ iÉÒxÉ ÊnùxÉ ®úÉÆSÉÒ ½þÉäEò®ú +ÉBÆ, Ê¤É½þÉ®ú ½þÉäEò®ú +ÉBÆ, <ºÉEòÉ |É¤ÉÆvÉ EòÒÊVÉB* ´É½þÉÆ ºÉä ®úÉÆSÉÒ, MÉªÉÉ ´ÉMÉè®ú½þ +É ºÉEòiÉÒ ½þèÆ* VÉèºÉä {É½þ±Éä ZÉÉºÉÖc÷É ºÉä SÉ±ÉEò®ú <±ÉÉ½þÉ¤ÉÉnù ºÉä ¤ÉÉäMÉÒ SÉ±ÉiÉÒ lÉÒ, <±ÉÉ½þÉ¤ÉÉnù ¨ÉäÆ BEò ¤ÉÉäMÉÒ ±ÉMÉxÉÒ SÉÉÊ½þB*

Sir, I am closing with this topic on the construction of an overbridge at Belpahar. This, again, is on the main line. It is an industrial belt. The presence of Tatas and Birlas is very much there. There are the Oriental Paper Mills, Tata's refractories, collieries, coal mines and so on.

The construction of two overbridges is very very essential. I would request the Department to construct an overbridge at Gaharchuda town in Chokipada. Sir, everybody knows that Gaharchuda is an old and important railway junction. A lot of place is there. It is the correct place for building up the divisional headquarters. But for some reasons it could not be done. The people of that area feel neglected.

I would request the Ministry of Railways to think in terms of building a factory or some loco-shed or workshop at Gaharchuda. It should come up in a bigger way. ... (Interruptions)

Sir, it is the right time to take steps for taking India into the 21st Century. For placing India prominently on the world map, we have to do so many things. In this connection, infrastructure development centering around Railways has a very top place. For that we have to do so many things, like financial reforms which was one of the aspects I have analysed. The Government, the Planning Commission and Parliament, all together should rise to the occasion to see that there is balanced development of all the Departments, including the Railways. Otherwise, there would be discontentment and it is fast growing up already. In a country of India's continental size, there are a number of problems and national integration is at the top of it. I am afraid that it may be weakened and that position may be threatened.

With these words, I support the Supplementary Demands for Grants. Thank you.

(ends)

2139 hours

SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN (TRIPURA EAST): Sir, I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants. I thank the Minister of Railways and the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of Tripura. In the last Budget, it was decided to extend the railway line from Kumarghat to Agarthala. The distance from Kumarghat to Agarthala is 119 kilometres. The distance between Kumarghat and Kalkolighat is 63 kilometres. It took about fifty years to undertake the work of 63 kilometres.

I request the Prime Minister and the hon. Minister of Railways to fulfil the assurance given by this Government regarding the completion of work of 119 kilometres up to Agarthala.

In a meeting held on 23 October 1996, the Prime Minister and the hon. Minister of Railways have assured the people of Tripura that this project would be completed within next five years. We hope that this project would be completed within the next five years. In the current year's Budget, only Re.1 crore has been provided. We would like the Government to see that the work is started and completed soon. But until now, there is no sign of the Government starting this work. I request the Minister of Railways to start this work immediately.

There was a decision to set up one computerised reservation centre in Agartala. That centre should be opened as early as possible.

... (´ªÉ´ÉvÉÉxÉ)

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN (HAJIPUR):

¸ÉÒ ®úÉ¨É Ê´É±ÉÉºÉ {ÉÉºÉ´ÉÉxÉ : +É{ÉEòÉ +OÉiÉ±ÉÉ EòÉ |É{ÉÉäWÉ±É iÉèªÉÉ®ú ½þè, +É{ÉEòä ºÉÉlÉ BEò ÊnùxÉ SÉ±ÉäÆMÉä*

That is done already -- a week earlier. We will go on any day.

SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN (TRIPURA EAST): We may fix up our programme and we shall see that facility.

Railways is one of the important infrastructures for developmental works. The people of the North-Eastern States such as Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh should get the railway extension facility. I would request the hon. Minister to take such a courageous and progressive decision to connect the capital towns of those States. If it is not possible to do it during the current year, at least this Government should do it next year.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN: Which line are you talking. about?

SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN (TRIPURA EAST): I am talking about the line to connect all the capital towns of the North-Eastern States.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN: But the North-Eastern Governments do not want to connect the capital towns. Does the Meghalaya Government want it?

SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN (TRIPURA EAST): They may not want. But we want.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN: We can go up to Dimapur. But after Dimapur, what can we do? I am ready to connect; whatever money is to be spent, we would spend. But the State Governments are not ready.

SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN (TRIPURA EAST): If you connect it, the people would be happy.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN: I will also be happy.

MR. CHAIRMAN (SHRI P C CHACKO) : The hon. Minister says that you should also persuade the State Governments.

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN: We also want all the capital towns to be connected.

SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN (TRIPURA EAST): I would request the hon. Minister to introduce one Express Train from Kumarghat to Lumding. There is a metre gauge train running now. Passenger trains are running between Kumarghat and Badarpur and between Kumarghat and Lumding. But it is not enough. It takes too much time. So, people of these States used to take a bus journey. Since this is very much necessary, I request you to do this.

Some wagons are necessary to transport the essential commodities to Tripura, Mizoram and other States. There is also a decision to extend this BG line up to Badarpur. This work should also be completed as early as possible. From Badarpur, all the three States can transport the essential commodities. During rainy season due to some unavoidable reasons like landslide, etc., the road from Lumding to Badarpur is getting closed. So, it is necessary that all the stations of the North-East should be improved.

Earlier there was a practice to invite the zonal MPs for a meeting where they used to raise the problems of their zones. Earlier, even in the Eastern zone also, they used to hold such meetings. I request the hon. Minister to restore such meetings so that we can raise our problems and get them resolved.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The hon. Member is requesting for the restoration of meetings of the Zonal MPs.

SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN (TRIPURA EAST): Such meetings were there earlier.

With these words, I conclude.

(ends)