The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has alerted its workforce about the thriving coal theft by frequent patrolling and sending staff on deputation to sensitive areas to check theft of coal from goods trains and other illegal activities.
The ECoR, getting information about coal theft from media, has formed special squads to check coal smuggling.
A lot of such incidents have been occurring on Bhadrak-Dhamara Port Private Rail line under the control of Dhamara Port. Efforts are being taken to curb the theft with coordination of State police.
The Khurda Road Divisional Railway Manager along with Senior Divisional Security Commissioner has taken up the matter with Dhamra Port authorities and Bhadrak district police, informed an official release.
The Railway line from Dhamara Port to Ranital is owned and operated by the Dhamara Port Corporation limited. Repeated public complaints and media alerts are being received regarding rampant theft of coal from coal loaded wagons during their run between Dhamara Port and Ranital station, particularly near Ranital Junction Cabin near. Video footage of the same incidents are also getting viral in social media. A group of criminals are committing theft of coal by utilising local villagers who are engaged to unload coal from the wagons of the running trains, said an official release.
The DRM has written to State police authorities to stop coal theft and clamp down strongly against the illegal activities.
The Railways has urged upon all concerned to inform about coal theft over phone number 182.