Keonjhar: The Keonjhar District Truck Owners’ Association has called a 24-hour shutdown and economic blockade of Keonjhar Monday to protest against the connection of the railway siding from the Gandhamardan mine at Suakati to Gohaldihi railway siding under Sadar block.
On this occasion, one of the truck owners Deeptikant Patnaik clarified and answered the questions of the journalists in a press conference held at the union office Sunday. He said that the association has taken such an extreme decision after the railway authorities failed to fulfill their demand. If the railway line is connected, thousands of truck owners who depend on trucks in Keonjhar district and about 3 lakh people directly and indirectly related to it will be affected. Such a decision of the Ministry of Railways will crush the truck business, while truck business is a source of income for thousands of educated unemployed people of Keonjhar district, he said. The economy of Keonjhar has been completely destroyed due to the 3-year suspension of vehicles seen in the past. Therefore, he said that today’s movement is being made about it so that it does not happen again. Many associations and organisations of Keonjhar district extend their support to us. The agitation will be continued in all areas within the coming days until the demands are fulfilled, he further said.
On that day the truckers will stage obstruction rail movement, he said. Essential services including ambulance services, fire trucks, milk trucks, school and college examinations will not be stopped. It has been revealed that railway siding from Gandhamardan iron ore mine in Suakati managed by Odisha Mining Corporation has been arranged in the budget of 20 crore rupees for 12.6 km railway in the year 2023-24, while another 20 crore has been approved in the current Budget i.e. 2024-25. Out of Rs 189 crore 93 lakh Budget, so far `20 crore rupees have been allocated in the current budget sources said. Due to this movement, the Railways and the state government have suffered a huge revenue loss.
