Reversal of decision of the SE Railway with regard to extension of service of two local passenger trains has irked the residents of north Odisha here. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), SE Railway, had informed the local station master of Jaleswar that two trains, which currently run between Howarh and Belda stations, had been extended up to Jaleswar on January 14. However, the next day, the decision was reversed. The DRM office again informed that the extension was postponed.
Samaj Kalyan Vikash Parishad, a local organization of north Baleswar, had been often raising a demand for extension of the two trains upto Jaleswar and their running up to Howarh. Parishad chairman and former Minister Raghunath Mohanty had recently written to the authorities including the Railway Minister and SE Railway GM for the implementation of the decision of the Union Ministry pertaining to the new train service.
The notification as well as announcement by the Railway Ministry for extension of the two passenger trains was made long back though no step had been taken. The people of north Baleswar depend on Howrah for various reasons.