Rail blockade disrupts train movement

=============================================================
This article has been sent to you by koraputonline ( koraputonline@gmail.com )
=============================================================
Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/01/04/stories/2010010452740300.htm)
Other States
-
Orissa
  

Rail blockade disrupts train movement


Staff Reporter

Agitators flay ‘step-motherly’ attitude of railways towards Koraput district

All trains on the route cancelledCPI and other organisations extend support
BERHAMPUR: Rail traffic between Kirandul in Chhattisgarh and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh was disrupted on Sunday due to an indefinite rail blockade agitation at Jeypore station in Koraput district of Orissa.
The agitation has been taken up by the activists of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) under the leadership of Jeypore MLA, Rabinarayan Nanda, against the alleged step-motherly attitude of the railways towards undivided Koraput district. Most trade unions of the area, activists of the CPI, Bar Associations and Chambers of Commerce of Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri districts also extended their support to the agitation.
All trains on the route, including the goods trains and passenger trains, had to be cancelled. Hundreds of protestors with banners had reached the Jeypore station to block the railway track from early morning.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Nanda said they launched the indefinite strike for three major demands.
They wanted the Koraput-Bhubaneswar Hiraphand express, Koraput-Howrah Samaleswari Express, Koraput-Visakhapatnam DMU to be extended up to Jeypore.
It may be noted that Jeypore happens to be a major commercial centre of undivided Koraput district. Distance of railway track between Jeypore and Koraput town is 42 km.
The agitators also demanded modernisation and extension of amenities at Jeypore station so that trains could start and terminate there. “We also demand the railways to expedite the work on the railway link between Vijaywada and Raipur,” Mr. Nanda said.

Revenue
It may be noted that the Jeypore station was inaugurated in 1967. But only one passenger train travelling from Kirandul to Visakhapatnam connects the station. The Kirandul-Visakhapatnam track mainly caters to the transportation of iron ore.
As per Mr. Nanda the railways earns revenue worth around Rs. 1.40 crore from the track every day. But it has not provided much to the inhabitants of the region in return. We have decided to make railways authorities realise their mistake and provide facilities to the passengers of this backward region which provides ample amount of revenue to railways from goods transport.


Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly
prohibited without the consent of The Hindu