Due to repeated break down of its weighbridge at Bhansi leading to huge loss of revenue by way of theft of iron ore, the credibility of railways and their weighing facility is at stake. Embarrassed by the allegation of iron ore theft, officials of railway are not only examining the problem behind the frequent complaints, but they are also actively considering to closing it forever. According to East Coast Railway’s Waltair Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar, by establishing the weighing equipment at Bailadila itself, the weighing system would soon be improved.
For weighing the iron ore produced by National Mineral Development Corporation the Railways have established weighbridge at Bhansi station but as it goes very often out of action causing loss worth crores to the NDMC, the railways are considering to close it. In its place, seven weighing bridges are constructed at Kirandul and Bacheli.
In fact, in view of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s startling revelation of Rs 17 thousand crore scam in iron ore transportation the railways have tightened vigilance on all departments concerned with the transportation of iron ore.
As the CBI is already probing all the aspects of this scam the railways had increased vigil on transportation wing and after the CAG report, officials are making frequent visits to to Kirandul and Bacheli.
Notably, the railways transporting 20 percent iron ore from Bastar and in absence of proper weighing facility, some of railways and NMDC employees in collusion with iron ore purchasers allegedly succeed in siphoning out ore worth crores without its weight. And the doubt has cetred around the Bhansi weighbridge which was set up in this Maoist affected areas in 2006 and according to reports one or two rakes of iron ore are sent off without weighing. Sources claimed that sending off goods train even without weighing due to problem in weighbridge is a compulsion as there is no adequate siding facility is available here. Not more than two rakes can be stationed here at a time.
According to sources, theft of iron ore in collusion with Bhansi weighbridge staff is going on for quite some times. After the CAG Report, the railways have tightened the vigil at the weighbridge with more than half a dozen top officials of Railways visiting Bhansi and deputing even a separate team of officials there to keep strict vigil at the weighing facility.
To stop the irregularity in weighing and theft of iron ore, now railway is establishing two weighbridge at Kirandul and 5 at Bacheli. The work is in final stages as senior divisional mechanical engineer is personally camping at Bailadila to supervise it. After completion of the work the railways will hand over all the weighbridges to NDMC and after that Bhansi facility will be closed down. At Bailadila, both NMDC and railways staff will keep vigil on the weighbridge which is presently lacking at Bhansi.