An ambitious railway project of north Baleswar proposing a rail link between Bangiriposhi-Gorumahisani and Tata Nagar is moving at a snail’s pace, apparently due to apathetic attitude of the department.
The project, after operational, would serve as a vital link between Baleswar and Tata Nagar. Currently, for Tata Nagar from Baleswar while one has to go via Kharagpur, which is about 252 km, the distance would reduce at least by 48 km once the link is established between Baleswar and Tata Nagar via Rupsa , Baripada, Bangriposhi and Gorumahisani.
Since there is an existing rail link between Baleswar and Bangiriposhi, further its extension up to Tata Nagar via Bangiriposhi and Gorumahisani would not only reduce the time, it would also give a boost to the freight service, especially in view of the existing port at Dhamra and proposed port at Baliapal.
In the preliminary phase, although the survey work for the route between Bangiriposhi and Garumahisani, (42 km) is completed about 3 years ago, yet no construction work has been undertaken in the want of allocation of fund, said sources.
Similarly, while there was a proposal of railway to establish rail link between Gorumahasani and Keonjhar, it has made hardly any progress as yet.
“Although the State Government is providing land free of cost and is ready to bear the State share for the project, yet the Railways was not showing interest in these projects. Whatever was coming, it was too little, too late. These projects, once completed, would provide connectivity to the residents of tribal districts, mainly Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, who otherwise face a lot of difficulties and travel a lot either by bus or other local trains to catch the mainlines,” alleged locals.
“Our demands were in relation to the construction of new tracks, gauge conversion, doubling, boosting of passenger amenities, improving traffic facilities, safety and electrification, etc,” they added.
“The demand for Digha-Chandaneshwar-Baliapal-Basta-Rupsa-Bangritosi-Baripada-Tatanagar rail corridor was made by me during 2016-17 Budget. The network would not only boost economic activity of the region, but also encourage a more efficient movement of people and goods. These issues, especially infrastructure development of the Railways, would be raised in the coming days,” said Baleswar MP RK Jena.