Odisha CM demands tele, banking & rail connectivity in Maoist-affected districts

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today put forth demands before the Centre for better railway connectivity, banking and telecommunication facilities in Maoist-hit districts.

New Delhi: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Centre to provide telecommunication, banking services to Naxal-hit districts and also stressed on the establishment of rail connectivity specifically to Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts of the State.

Patnaik gave his proposals at a review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on ongoing operations against Naxals and development initiatives being undertaken in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assured the Centre that the State government will provide free land and also bear half of the cost for the railway projects in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts.

Speaking to the media after the inter-state council meeting on anti-Maoist operations in New Delhi, he said that the state had put forth three demands.

”I have urged the Centre for teleservices, banking facilities and rail connectivity in Maoist-hit Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts. The State government is willing to provide land for free and also pay half the cost. " he said.

Among others, Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, besides top police and civil officials of the Naxal affected states, senior officials of paramilitary forces and the home ministry also attended the meeting.