Bolangir: Hundreds of locals staged a rail roko at Bolangir railway station here demanding railway connectivity between Bolangir and Nuapada via Patnagarh.
Residents under the banner of Citizens’ Forum blocked the train line and protested government’s indifference towards the long standing demand.
Due to protests, railway connectivity on Titlagarh-Sambalpur link was disrupted with passenger trains including Puri Sainagar Shirdi Express and two goods trains stranded on Bolangir station.
Police force was deployed at the station to avoid any eventuality. “Platoons of RPF, state police and GRP have been deployed at the spot to prevent law and order situation and smooth movement of trains,” DSP GRP Dillip Kumar Bag said.
Locals complained that even though a proposal for the railway link was made in 2014 neither the Centre nor the railway board have shown any due attention towards the project. Similarly, the state government has also not allocated land for setting up the railway connectivity.
“The 100 km railway line between Bolangir and Nuapada through areas of Hardatal, Chudapali, Gamhari, Khaprakhol and Patnagarh deserves special attention because it will bring a massive economic development for the tribal dominated regions of Bolangir and Nuapada along with Patnagarh which is largely underdeveloped,” an activist, Darparanjan Patnaik, said.
“We had brought the issue to the attention of Divisional Railway Manager, General Manager and even the state Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi but to no avail. If the government does not pay any heed to our demands, we will observe 24-hour rail roko protest on Titlagarh-Kantabanji and Lathor route,” he added.
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