For the fourth consecutive day, irate Keonjhar denizens on Monday staged a demonstration at the Daitari-Bansapani rail link stopping all goods trains.
The denizens have been demanding more passenger train services to the district, daily running of the Bhubaneswar-Keonjhar passenger train instead of six days a week, running of the Keonjhar-Bhubaneswar passenger via Cuttack, extension of the Puri-Chakradharpur Express up to Tata Nagar, running of the Tata Nagar-Vizag train thrice a week and extension of the Tata Nagar-Barbil train up to Bolani.Six organisations, including the Kendujhar Progressive Citizens’ Forum, Keonjhar District Citizens’ Forum, Bar Association, Keonjhar District Journalists’ Association, Hotel Association and Keonjhar Businessmen’s Association, are protesting together under the leadership of the Kendujhar Yuva Parisad.
The agitators have blocked the rail tracks at Ghuturu and Naranpur since November 15, for which minerals transport by rail has been paralysed. Though the Parisad had announced to only block movement of goods trains, the railway authorities have suspended all passenger train services in this route. Meanwhile, two rounds of discussions have been held between the railway authorities and the agitators, but to no avail.