The negligence has triggered resentment among locals who are bracing for a rail rook August 17
Rupsa: The Amarda Road railway station in Balasore under the Kharagpur division of South Eastern Railway is important for both passenger services and freight. Built before Independence, the station has been neglected by the railways.
The station generates revenue of about Rs 4 lakh every month, but facilities for passengers have not been put in place.
The negligence of the station has triggered resentment among the locals who are bracing for an agitation August 17.
“A rail roko will be staged August 17,” warned local leaders like former MLA Debi Prasanna Chand, former sarpanch Pradip Kumar Behera, Ramesh Das, Rajkoshore Mohanty and Debjit Ghose.
The station is situated on the border of Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts and a road from here goes to the Rasgobindapur airstrip. Thousands from villages like Natakata, Kulida, Barunagadia, Nakichua, Purusottampur, Sharmula, Kamardiha, Nalagaja, Debashula, Chitrada and Mudura of both districts use this railway station.
But they have to face a lot of problems due to the absence of adequate facilities. The station needs a high level platform, lighting, toilets for women, a reservation counter and restrooms. Locals have demanded halt for the East Coast Hyderabad and Salimar-Baripada Express trains.
Organisations like the Anchalika Bikash Manch, Friends and Cultural Association and NGOs have submitted memoranda to the railway authorities over their demands. But nothing has been done for the development of the station.
The negligence of the station is visible from the absence of a welcome gate. Weeds and creeps have spouted all over the platform.
Kharagpur divisional railway manager and Balasore MP have been apprised of the August 17 rail roko.
Ramchandra Roul, president of the Anchalika Bikash Manch said, “Amada Road is a commercial hub of Balasore. The development of the railway station is linked to the development of locals and their businesses.”
In the absence of a high level platform, patients, senior citizens and differently abled persons have to face a lot of difficulties boarding and alighting from trains. The station needs to be developed in the interests of the people, he said.
Station manager Dibakar Mohanty said the attention of higher authorities have been drawn towards the basic needs of the railway station.
PNN
