Keonjhar: The mineral rich district of Keonjhar has been neglected by the railways even though it generates substantial revenue for it through freight traffic.
The shortcomings in the railway network have led to a lot of resentment among the people.
Nagarika Manch, a local organisation, had been demanding expansion of the railway network to develop remote pockets.
The main demand is doubling the railway line from Jhakhapura to Bansapani and its extension to Tatanagar. The project will facilitate transport of minerals.
There is also a need for a rail link from Keonjhar to the mineral bearing areas of Badampahad, Gorumahisani and Suleipat in Mayurbhanj district to facilitate the transport of mineral ores.
A survey for the project was conducted in 2011. The project can be useful for transporting coal from Talcher and iron ore from Jharkhand, experts said.
There is no rail link from Bansapani to the mining areas in Barbil. Nagarika Manch has demanded construction of this 8-km rail line.
A rail link is also needed from Bansapani to Bimalagad in Sundargarh district. If this 30-km line is laid it will facilitate mineral transportation to and from Rourkela, Talcher and Angul.
Another rail line that has been demanded since long is the Harichandanpur-Anandapur-Bhadrak line. If this project is executed it will provide a direct link to the mineral bearing areas of Joda, Barbil and Baula and Dhamra port.
If a railway line is laid from Badampahad to Chakulia via Bangiriposi and Budhamara it will provide rail connectivity from the region to Kolkata and Kharagpur.
The Angul-Hijili (West Bengal) line will provide a direct link to the mineral bearing areas of Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, said Kiran Sahu, president of Nagarika Manch.
There is also a need to hike the frequency of the Tatanagar-Keonjhar-Visakhapatnam train, said Prakah Sutradhar, vice-president of Utthana Foundation, another outfit.
PNN
