Odisha: BJD reiterates demand for passenger train on Haridaspur-Paradip line

BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD on Sunday reiterated its demand for running a passenger train on the Haridaspur-Paradip rail line, which is nearing completion and will soon be ready to be commissioned.
Addressing a news conference here, BJD MLAs from Kendrapada district urged railway minister Piyush Goyal to take an early decision on running a passenger train on the newly developed 82km rail line.
“The people of Kendrapada district have always given constructive support to the railway project, while many have sacrificed their land for it. Since the railway line will bring Kendrapada district on the railway map for the first time, people have high hopes that the railways will run a passenger train on the line,” said Mahakalapada MLA and former minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.
Stating that chief minister Naveen Patnaik and petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan have already taken up the issue with the railway minister, the Mahakalapada MLA said the railways should take a decision keeping in mind the emotions of the people of Kendrapada.
Sanctioned in 1996, the railway project connecting three districts — Jajpur, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur — has triggered a political slugfest between BJD and BJP as both parties are trying hard to take credit for it.
As a section of the people recently staged a rail roko during the trial run of a goods train on the newly constructed line at Nuagan railway station in Kendrapada district, demanding immediate starting of passenger train services on the route, the Kendrapada unit of BJP criticised Atanu for “stalling progress”.
“A group of people instigated by Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak recently blocked the trial run of goods train on the Haridaspur- Paradip line. The BJD leaders claim they want passenger train services on the line but blocked the trial run of a goods train. This is against the progress of Kendrapada,” said Kishore Chandra Panda, Kendrapada unit president of BJP.
In response, Atanu said, “Since it is an emotional issue, the people have spontaneously staged the rail roko, demanding immediate written assurance from railways on starting passenger train service.”
Earlier, Naveen had written to Goyal requesting a passenger train on the line while Dharmendra had requested him for a grand inauguration of the project in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief minister.