Efforts stepped up for rail line between Berhampur and Phulbani

The agitation to achieve a railway link to Kandhamal district from Berhampur in Ganjam district will be intensified through democratic means, the Relapatha Sangram Samity of Kandhamal district, which is spearheading the agitation, has said. As part of its stepped up efforts to achieve its demand, the organisation decided to rope in people of Ganjam district. The organisation has, therefore, been renamed as ‘Relapatha Sangram Samity, Kandhamal-Ganjam’. The extended organisation held its first meeting in the city on Sunday to chalk out its future plans. It was attended by its president Sriya Kumari Nayak, secretary Subash Chandra Sahu, and social activists from Ganjam and Kandhamnal districts.

They decided to take out a rally in Berhampur on December 6 and hand over a memorandum to the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Southern Division, demanding that the railway link between Berhampur in Ganjam and Phulbani in Kandhamal district passing through areas that were yet to have rail connectivity be provided. The organisation also proposed to take out a motorcycle rally from Berhampur to Phulbani to create awareness among people. The rally would pass through the areas in Ganjam and Kandhamal districts that would stand to gain if the demand was conceded.

Former president of Ganjam Bar Association Sudhansu Panda, who attended the meeting, said it was a long-pending demand. He said that in 1977 a proposal had been made for budgetary allocation for survey work. Members of the organisation said railway connectivity would act as a catalyst in development for regions of both the districts. People of Kandhamal district hope railway connectivity would give a boost to tourism in region. It would also increase the market for the forest and organic agricultural produce of tribal people and dalits of the district.

Source: The Hindu