Members of the Bharat Bikash Parishad, along with several social organisations, intellectuals and political leaders, on Tuesday demanded expediting the Brahmapur-Sambalpur railway line here besides establishment of a Railway Division at Brahmapur, instead of the proposed one at Rayagada.
At a Press conference here, they said that though the railway line is an old project, there is much delay in completing it and warned of intensifying their agitation if steps were not taken to complete the railway line.
Notably, there is allocation of Rs 2,957 crore for the 240 km railway line, where five tunnels, 38 big bridges, 148 small bridges and 18 stations would be constructed. The stations are Jagannathpur, Kukudakhandi, Hinjilicut, Aska, Khandarabali, Basudevpur, Bhanjanagar, Mujaguda, Baden, Chakada, Jagarpada, Phulbani, Lakarapalu, Sunamunda, Mundapada, Boudh, Kadaligada and Redhakhol.
The Parishad demanded that the Central and the State Governments allocate adequate funds for the construction of the stations.
They opined that the demand for a the Railway Division in Brahmapur is justified as the city is a commercial hub of southern Odisha.
Among others, Parishad president Surendra Panigrahi, BJP district president Kanhu Charan Patra, district Congress working president Pitabasa Panda, Ganjam Bar Association former president Mohan Singari, Ganjam Chamber of Commerce former secretary Santosh Sahu, Manav Adhikar Surakhya Manch convenor Abani Gayaa and Sanjaya Kumar Majhi were present.