The residents of Sambalpur are much aggrieved over a decision of Railways to close Fatak Rail Station situated in heart of city and catering to needs of 70 per cent of users.
Notably, people of the region have got an emotional attachment with station as the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi got down here to address meetings during freedom movement. And it has got a long history of 126 years of existence from 1884 under Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR) when it started operating during British India.
An attempt was made earlier in year 2007 to close station on plea of doubling of lines and shortage of space. But it couldn’t be successful due to strong interference of then administration and protest by public.
The then RDC MS Padhi, Collector LN Nayak and sub collector KC Sahu told railway officials here that Railways has sufficient lands on both sides which is encroached by different people as it remained unused for a century.
