An economic blockade staged by the Sundargarh District Adivasi Mulabasi Bachao Sangha (SDAMBA) here which had paralysed all railway movements in Howrah – Mumbai route was called off on Wednesday afternoon. It happened following a discussion between a delegation of agitators and the district administration. The agitators were given a written assurance that a meeting would soon be organised with the Housing and Urban Development Ministry at Bhubaneswar where a delegation of the agitators would participate.
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of tribals under the banner of SDAMBA staged blockades at Kukda gate and Siridi Sai Temple near Vedvyas square of Howra – Mumbai route, demanding withdrawal of a State Government notification giving corporation status to Rourkela Municipality. The agitators also staged road blockade in a few other localities, which however was vacated by the police. The rail services were totally disrupted in Howrah – Mumbai route. At least five trains were left stranded at Rourkela station and about a dozen of trains scheduled to travel in the route were diverted in separate routes. The blockade at Siridi Sai temple, however, was cleared by police late on Tuesday night, following which onward train service from Rourkela had resumed. The Rourkela – Bhubaneswar Intercity Express had left from Rourkela on Wednesday morning towards its destination, but other trains travelling on this route were detained.
A meeting between a delegation of agitators led by Biramitrapur MlA George Tirkey and district administration headed by Sundargarh Collector BS Punia was held at Bondamunda railway office to resolve the crisis. After the withdrawal of the blockade, the railway officials organized inspection of the railway tracks and the train services had finally resumed at around 4.30 PM on Wednesday.