By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 14, 2019: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal attributed the Odisha government’s inability to acquire land for slow pace of progress in railway projects in the State.

In a letter addressed to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Goyal said non-availability of land and forest clearances were the major hindrances in taking the projects forward.

More than 4,000 acres of private, government and forest land are to be acquired and handed over to the Railways for completion of the Khurda Road-Balangir line, which connects the coastal region with the western district of the State.

Similarly, in case of the Talcher-Bimlagarh project, 1,600 acres remain to be acquired.

The East Coast Railways has requested the Odisha government to expedite land acquisition and forest land diversion process.