Demand for enhanced rail links to Jagatsinghpur gains momentum

The call for better rail connectivity to Jagatsinghpur district is growing stronger, with local residents and outfits raising voices for action. Despite the existence of a railway line connecting Cuttack to Paradip via Biridi, Raghunathpur, Tirtol, and Kujang, the lack of direct access to district headquarters continues to be a major concern, sources said on Tuesday.

Dependence on Cuttack and Bhubaneswar

Currently, the passengers are to rely on Cuttack and Bhubaneswar railway stations for their journeys. Allegations suggest that only two to three local trains make their way to Paradip at present, leading to increasing demands for rail links to meet the needs of the district's growing population and the presence of prominent industrial houses.

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“Long-demanded rail links to Jagatsinghpur district is a logical demand and I wholeheartedly support it. The existing rail connectivity to Paradip has only commercial implications and is meant for transportation of goods,” a local social activist, Prashant Routray said to OTV.

“Locals need rail connectivity to travel to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar,” Routray added.

Stakeholders push for direct railway line

Consequently, local stakeholders are pressuring the authorities to prioritise the creation of railway connectivity directly to Jagatsinghpur district’s administrative center, aligning with the community's development aspirations.

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“I had a discussion with the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and he has accepted our proposal and assured me that a separate line will connect Paradip with Cuttack. Accordingly, a survey team of the Railway Department will arrive soon to take stock of the available infrastructure,” Jagatsinghpur BJP MLA Amarendra Das expressed.