‘Rail roko' staged demanding passenger halt at Industrial Estate in BAMP

BERHAMPUR: ‘Rail roko' was staged in Berhampur demanding a passenger halt near industrial estate of the city. The agitators were led by Umacharan Nayak and corporator Jyotsanarani Nayak. Residents of Lanjipalli, Industrial Estate, Ankuli, and Gajapati Nagar took part in the agitation. The agitators gathered under the banner of ‘Ward number 34 Unnayan Committee'. They blocked the railway tracks near industrial estate for around two hours from 7a.m. The Berhampur-Cuttack DMU and the Bhubaneswar-Bangalore Prashanti express were delayed due to the agitation. There has been a demand for a passenger halt near industrial estate for the past two decades.A special citizens' committee, named ‘Shilpanchal Passenger Halt Sangram Samiti' has also been formed to pursue the issue with the railway authorities. Several trade unions have also extended their support to the demand. It is felt that as the size and population of the city have increased manifold, there is a need for a passenger halt. The establishment of the passenger halt would end overcrowding of Berhampur railway station during the timings of DMUs in the morning and evening. Last year, East Coast Railway authorities agreed on principle for establishment of the passenger halt near industrial estate. But the provision of the halt has not yet materialised.

Source: The Hindu