Railway Infrastructure in Berhampur and South Orissa remains pitiable

Railway Infrastructure in Berhampur and South Orissa remains pitiable in the absence of a coaching terminal, though East-Coast Railway is in the pink of its health

R.P.Tripathy

It is a matter of great disappointment for the people of Berhampur and South Orissa that the divisional and zonal authorities are taking least interest in developing Berhampur Railway station and the overall development of railway infrastructure in South Orissa . The more than a century old Berhampur Railway station, built by the British is the second busiest railway station in the state of Orissa, after Bhubaneswar and it enjoys an “A” grade status. But, this is one of the poorly managed stations under the East Coast Railway Zone.

For the past 20 years the people of South Orissa have been demanding for a railway coaching terminal at Berhampur railway station, so that the long distance trains terminating at Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam could be extended up to Berhampur, the principal city of South Orissa. Several agitations, protests and memorandums have not helped in its materialization. Infact, the state government has also requested for a coaching terminal at Berhampur, but in vain. Coaching terminal at Berhampur railway station would solve some of the long felt problems of the people of Berhampur city and South Orissa but the railway authorities have remained unmoved so far.

Requests for direct train links to Rourkela , Tata, Surat and Allahabad etc. and extension of Orissa Sampark Kranti Express to Berhampur have not materialized yet. These are only some of the examples of the kind of seriousness the railway authorities attach to Berhampur railway station which caters to at least five million people of 4 southern districts of Orissa.

Most of the assurances of the East Coast Railway authorities have fallen flat as the railway foot over bridge to give connection the fourth platform in the Berhampur Railway Station has taken more than 4 years and is far from complete and the work on expansion of the 4th platform is yet to begin despite the shifting of the goods shed from the station to the outskirts of the city. The Lanjipalli railway over bridge is under construction for the last 7 years. The demand for a new passenger halt at Industrial Estate in the city has not been addressed so far.

The demand for a new railway division at Berhampur for ensuring better railway infrastructure in South Orissa is very old. Even the Hon’ble Union Minister of Railways has concurred this in the Rajya Sabha vide question (unstarred) number 728 and dated 17th August 2007. A new railway division at Berhampur will definitely help in better railway services for the people of South Orissa .

Sincere steps are needed to address the above issues and the issue of coaching terminal in particular. Berhampur and South-Orissa deserve better attention and augmentation in resources from the Indian railways to come out of the vicious circle of underdevelopment.