Odisha needs more pvt funds for transport sector: minister

October 7, 2013

Govt has recently launched Rs 3,000-crore plan to develop state highways within next four years

Private investors should come up with investment plan for improvement of transport infrastructure in the state like they have done in metal, power and port sectors, said Subrat Tarai, state minister of commerce and transport.

“Without adequate investment in road and railway transport infrastructure, private investment only in building new ports will be in vain. Better transport infrastructure will ensure higher manufacturing activities too”, he said at Transport Infra Odisha-2013, a conference organised by Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC) here to highlight different issues of the sector.

The minister said, Public Private Partnership (PPP) is being promoted for physical and social infrastructure creation. The state also seeks to augment public sector investment in high priority sectors like infrastructure.

The state government has recently launched a Rs 3000 crore plan to develop state highways within next four years. However, there is need for more investment from private and government-run PSUs in this sector, he said.

Tarai recently met Union Railways minister on a proposal to develop rail link from Bimlagarh in Koira tehsil of Sundergarh district to Talcher in public private partnership (PPP) mode. Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has shown interest to invest in the project.

“As of now, SAIL, the Railways and the state government are ready to invest in the Rs 800 crore project. I am sure more partners would come forward to participate in the project, which after completion, would reduce total travel time from Rourkela to Cuttack by at least five hours”, said the minister at the conference.The proposed rail line will help in transporting steel products of Rourkela Steel Plant in minimum possible time, he added.

Besides the rail project, the state government has taken initiative to develop the Rs 5000 crore National Waterways-5 by partnering with public sector enterprises and private investors instead of waiting for World Bank fund as that might delay the project implementation.

Source-http://www.business-standard.com