Congress, BJD oppose shifting of Railway electrification unit from Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The decision of the Railways Ministry to shift the office of Chief Railway Electrification from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru has now been opposed by several political parties including Congress and BJD in Odisha. Slamming the Centre for its decision, Odisha Congress today alleged that the move will adversely affect the financial condition of the State.

Due to shifting of the electrification unit, nearly 500 people will be left unemployed and there will be inordinate delay in execution of six railway projects, alleged Congress.

Addressing a presser, Congress Media Cell chairperson Satya Prakash Nayak said, “A notification was issued by the Railway Ministry for shifting the electrification unit on March 13 with a decision to complete the shifting process within March 31. The Centre should clarify on its move at a time everyone is busy with the polls.”

BJD on other hand trained its guns on the BJP over the decision and threatened to launch agitation in coming days.

“The saffron party wants to disrupt railway services in the State. With mala fide intention, the South Coast Railway zone was formed and now the electrification unit will be shifted to Bengaluru. Definitely the people of Odisha will give a befitting reply in coming days,” said BJD spokesperson, Sasmit Patra.

In his reaction BJP national secretary Suresh Pujari said, “The BJD has been ruling the State for 20 years whereas Congress ruled the country and Odisha for a long time. When people of the Odisha ask questions to BJD and Congress, both the parties just pass on the queries to us. There is no base to these questions and no need to comment on this.”