Chhattisgarh ignored in Railway Budget

     Raipur, Feb 24, 2010: Lack of political pressure on the Centre had once again resulted in total sidelining of mineral rich but underdeveloped Chhattisgarh state.

     Although the South East Central Railway was one of the highest contributors to the Railway exchequer but hardly anything the state or the Zone got from Mamata Banerjee presented Railway budget for the next fiscal.

     The Rail Minister, however, today announced a couple of minor things for the Zone, including increase in frequency to twice a week of 2251/2252 Korba Yashwantpur Express and from 3 days to 5 days a week of 2807/2808 Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin Samta Express.

     A weekly express train from Howrah to Sirdi has been introduced where as once a week Guwahati-Mumbai Karmabhoomi unreserved train would pass through Howrah, Jharsuguda, Bilaspur and Nagpur.

     The 8425/8426 Puri-Raipur Express has been extended to Durg and 1704 Chirmiri-Damoh passenger is extended to Sagor.

     The Budget also proposed to start work on Mandir Hasoud-Naya Raipur Section and doubling of Durg-Rajnandgaon third line.