City BJP reiterates demand for railway passenger halt near Industrial Estate in Berhampur

Source: The Hindu & The Sambad

The demand for a passenger halt near the Industrial Estate in Berhampur city has remained unfulfilled despite repeated promises to that effect by the East Coast Railway authorities. In November 1998 at a meeting of the railway coordination committee recommendation was made for establishment of a passenger halt in industrial estate area. In 2010, East Coast Railway authorities had agreed in principle to establishment of this halt near industrial estate. A delegation of railway engineers had also made a spot visit in the past to prepare a feasibility report. But the passenger halt has not materialized yet. 

The apathetic approach of the railway authorities has led to public anger with political parties planning for another round of agitation. With the expansion of the city and rise of population in the area a passenger halt at Industrial Estate has become necessary. Infact, a passenger halt with the name Lanjipalli Passenger Halt was recorded in the railway timetable in 1946. But for some reason this passenger halt which was near present Industrial Estate was closed down later. A citizens' delegation had recently met the General Manager of East Coast Railway with the demand to reopen the passenger halt in industrial estate area of Berhampur. The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division had also in the past recommended the establishment of this passenger halt. However, a small and genuine demand such as this has fallen victim to the red-tape of the callous East Coast Railway authorities who don't want to look beyond the four corners of the Zonal office. It is time they are made to understand the real problems faced by the public through agitations as this probably the only language they understand. 

Anti-encroachment drive in Berhampur as road expansion work gathers pace

Source: The Sambad

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to inaugurate MKCG Medical College golden jubilee

Preparations were in final stages for the five- day golden jubilee celebration of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) medical college in the city, which is to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday. According to organising secretary of the golden jubilee celebration, S.N.Mohanty, it was an occasion to celebrate for whole of south Odisha as this institute happened to be the only medical college in this region. The hospital attached to the medical college was also the only referral hospital in south Odisha.

The State government had started a medical college in Berhampur in 1961. Due to dearth of its own campus it was being run in the building in front of the City Hospital, which is now being used as office of Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO). Later it was shifted to the building which is now being used as living quarters of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division and the building which is now being used by the Ophthalmology Department of the medical college. On November 30, 1963, foundation stone was laid for the new building of the medical college and the hospital attached to it. In 1966 it was named after Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, who had played a pivotal role for the formation of modern Odisha State on linguistic basis. New building of this institution was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Odisha Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo on February 21, 1969.  

During the time of inception this institute had intake strength of 40 students. Now 150 students are getting admitted into its MBBS course every year. At present 96 students were studying in post graduate courses of the institute. As the hospital attached to it happens to be the only referral hospital in south Odisha, more than 1,000 patients reach its out-patients section every day. On an average more than 120 patients get admitted in the indoor wards of the hospital every day. The alumni of the institute include several physicians of national and international repute. According to Dr. Mohanty around 5,000 delegates would attend the golden jubilee celebrations. First principal of the institute Sukumar Das would also attend the inaugural ceremony. As part of the celebration several technical seminars would be held in which experts of international fame would take part. Present as well as past students of the institute were also busy preparing for cultural shows they would perform during the five-day long celebration.

Source: The Hindu

Source: The Sambad

Source: Anupam Bharat

Berhampur local mini-bus stand near Barracks faces infrastructure woes

Source: The Sambad

50 years of MKCG Medical College (Berhampur): The more things change, The more they stay the same

Source: The Sambad

Queen of the Mission Festival concludes in Berhampur

Queen Mission Church, Berhampur

Thousands of Christians from different parts of the State and Andhra Pradesh gathered in Berhampur city on Tuesday to attend the concluding ceremony of ‘Queen of the Mission Festival’. It is a more-than-150-year-old festival observed at the Queen of the Mission cathedral in the city. Thousands of devotees marched through the streets of Berhampur holding burning candles in their hands in honour of Mother Mary on Friday evening. It is celebrated to commemorate the appearance of Mother Mary before St Catherina Laboure of France on Nov 27, 1830. So, this festival concludes on Nov 27. This festival has been celebrated in the Queen of the Mission Cathedral of the city since its inception in 1855. The main attraction of this festival is a large candle procession taken out by the devout on Nov 27 evening every year. The festival is also called ‘Candles’ Day festival by the common mass.

As part of the concluding day rituals a special holy mass was held at the cathedral on Tuesday morning. This mass was attended by Bishop Sarat C. Nayak of Berhampur diocese and around 70 priests. In the evening thousands of Christian devotees took part in the procession with lighted candles in their hands. They marched forward singing songs in praise of Mother Mary. An idol of Mother Mary on a decorated vehicle was carried along with the procession. Tight security arrangements had been made around the cathedral and on the roads through which the procession passed. People of different religions paid respect to the idol of Mother Mary at different squares.

Source: The Hindu & berhampurphoto.blogspot.com

Berhampur city News

Source: The Sambad

Gopalpur beach festival to be held from 24 to 28 December 2012

The famous Gopalpur Beach Festival (www.gopalpurbeachfestival.com) has been scheduled to start from 24th of December 2012. This five-day cultural festival aimed at promoting the serene Gopalpur beach resort is expected to draw large number of tourists to this popular beach town on the outskirts of Berhampur city. Date of the festival has been chosen to coincide with the Christmas festivities to attract more tourists to this beach resort. This time this beach festival is being organised jointly by the Ganjam district Culture Department, Tourism Department, Gopalpur Notified Area Council (NAC) 

 and GDHA. Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy is the president of the organising committee. According to the organisers like past years this cultural festival would showcase folk art forms from different parts of Ganjam district, other areas of Odisha and outside the State. A handicraft mela would also be part of this beach festival. Details of programmes of this beach festival would be decided at a meeting to be held on November 29, Mr. Panigrahy said. Organisers have suggested that renovation and widening work of Berhampur-Gopalpur road and Karapalli-Gopalpur road should get completed before the beach festival for smooth flow of traffic. Usually these roads get totally jam packed with traffic congestions during the beach festival in past years. Source: The Hindu