To send out a signal that VIP culture is no more acceptable to them, citizens of Jharsuguda on Thursday inaugurated the railway ramp over-bridge at the Jharsuguda railway station by walking on it en-masse.
A large number of people gathered at the station and removed objects from the entry points to the newly-constructed ramp over-bride and climbed up and down it. Then they declared the over-bridge inaugurated by them (the common people).
The citizens who challenged the VIP culture by inaugurating the ROB said although the bridge had been completed three months back; it was yet to be opened due to non-availability of a Minister or a senior railway official. The construction of the over-bridge was a longstanding demand and that can’t be kept unused only because it was inaugurated by a VIP, they argued.
They too argued that tax payers’ money has been invested for the construction of the over-bridge.
When contacted, Station Master SN Pati said if people could wait for three years for completion of the construction work then why they can’t wait for a few more days for the formal inauguration.
Aanchalik Vikash Parishad President Manmohan Pandey, senior lawyer Dinesh Jain, Tapas Ray Choudhury, Raghumani Patel and senior citizens Shankar Sharma, Suresh Bondia and Chunilal Kakani were present.