Agami Odisha demands rail link to Kandhamal

The Pioneer, Fab 4, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar

Demanding completion of all the ongoing Railway Projects in the State and sanction of rail link to Kandhamal district, a dharna-cum-meeting was organised by the Agami Odisha, Swabhiman Odisha Manch, Loksamukha, Focus Orissa and Khurda-Balangir Rail Line Kriyanusthan Committee at the East Coast Railway office here on Tuesday.

A delegation of five members led by working president of the Agami Odisha Er Lalit Mohan Pattnaik submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through Chief Engineer of the ECoR Rail Project. The Chief Engineer assured to take immediately steps to meet their demands.

Their demands included sanction of rail link to Kandhamal and connection of railways between Khurda Road-Balangir, Naupada-Gunupur-Therubali, Lanjigarh Road-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh-Nabrangpur-Jeypore-Malkangiri, Talcher-Bimlagarh, Bangiriposi-Gurumahisasini and Buramara-Chakulia during the 11th plan period. Moreover, they also demanded conversion of the Coach Repair Factory at Mancheswar here to a Coach Manufacturing Factory, sanction of a coach factory in KBK districts, declaration of Rourkela and Rayagada as divisions, all mineral reservoirs in the State should be included in ECOR, establishment of a zonal Railway Hospital here and appointment of supervisors and below workers from the State.

They alleged that backward regions of the country like North Eastern States are receiving special treatment by railway board, whereas the similar backward KBK region is being neglected since decades. The railway infrastructure of the State is substantially low compared to the national average, though the Railway is making huge profits from the State. During last 15 years, more lines were approved to Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal, though these places come under loss making zones.

Former MP Sivaji Pattnaik, CPI Assistant Secretary Asish Kanungo, Bichitra Badajena from Utkal Sammilani, Manoj Jena from the Binoba Seva Pratisthan and Madhu Bai from National Youth Project, along with representatives from all districts raised their voices against the step-motherly attitude of the Railway Board towards the State.