Talcher: The East Coast Railway zone of Indian Railways earns nearly Rs 4,000 crore a year from Talcher Railway Station which constitutes one-third of the total revenues generated under the Khurda Road Rail Division, according to a report.
However, the station which is to complete 100 years in next three years, lacks basic facilities including a decent platform, safe drinking water, toilets and a waiting room even as a local people’s representative is part of the Union cabinet.
Though locals staged demonstrations on several occasions demanding upgradation of the station and establishment of a rail link between Angul and Talcher, the demands fell on deaf ears.
According to reports, the plan for a rail station in Talcher had been conceived in 1921 and the coal transportation began January 20, 1927. At that time, the track was laid from Talcher to Nirgundi and about Rs 60 crore was spent on the project. The station was set up on behalf of the Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR) and named as Talcher Coalfields Railway.
At present, 40 to 50 rakes (a rake works out to nearly 2,200 tonne) of coal are transported from the station every day. The station registered transportation of 1,030 rakes of coal in September, 1,152 rakes in October and 1,208 rakes in November. The quantum of revenue contributed by the station in these months is Rs 278.91 cr, Rs 370.28 cr and Rs 353.31 cr respectively. This apart, Rs 50 lakh is collected every month as passengers’ fare.
Though the station is considered a cash cow for the ECoR, little attention is given towards its maintenance, renovation and passengers’ comfort, locals alleged.
The station does not have a platform shed nor waiting rooms for train travelers. Female passengers face a lot of problems in the absence of a toilet. A water purifying machine installed by a private agency is lying defunct. The station lacks wi-fi facility and the passengers are made to adjust in a few age-old cement chairs, complained angry passengers.
Though locals have been demanding a loop line linking Talcher-Angul via FCI Township, the project is yet to take off.
Meanwhile, conscious citizens of Talcher, Pallahara, Kamakhyanagar and Chhendipada demanded a facelift of the station and establishment of a Talcher-Angul link at the earliest. They threatened to launch a stir if their demands are not conceded. PNN
