Delay In Bimlagarh-Talcher Rail Line Project Sparks Protest In Odisha

Rourkela: Alleging inordinate delay in the completion of the much-awaited Bimlagarh-Talcher broad gauge railway line project, people of Sundergarh district today staged protest at Bimlagarh and Rourkela railway stations.

Hundreds of people took out a rally on Tuesday from Bisra chhak to the Rourkela railway station. They alleged that the project is moving at a snail's pace due to sheer apathy of State government and the Centre.

"Both the Centre and the State government are delaying the railway line project. Land acquisition for the project is yet to be completed. We demand speedy completion of the project," said a local.

Another protesting local alleged that the Odisha government is 'completely responsible for the delay as it has failed to acquire the required land for the project' due to which the railway is facing difficulties in moving ahead with the project.

As per reports, of the total requirement of 2,088 (approx) acre land for the railway line project, only 466 (approx) acre have been acquired. Moreover, of the 289 km project, works on only 39 km have been completed so far.

The estimated cost of the project is about Rs 1,928 crore. With a route length of 149 km, the project envisages to reduce the distance between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar by about 347 km against the present distance of 462 km.