Tribals oppose SER’s ‘unholy’ move

BARIPADA: Resentment is brewing among the people of tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district after the South Eastern Railway (SER) stopped running of Salimar-Bhanjpur and Bhanjpur-Puri special train via Baripada recently. Sources said the SER had introduced the special train during holy month of Kartika  in order to facilitate the devotees to travel to pilgrimage town of Puri. The train was running for two days in a week. But last week, the railway authorities stopped the service.

After converting the narrow gauge into broad gauge,  the people of the district have been demanding a regular train between Puri and Baripada. Despite several demonstrations and road blockades by the locals, the State Government and the railway officials are not paying any heed to the demands, the locals said. Mayurbhanj, which is one the largest tribal-dominated districts, is always neglected by the railways, they added.

The commuters have been facing a tough time to travel to Puri from Baripada after sudden closure of the train service. Now they have to spend around `350 as bus fair to reach Puri.Mayurbhanj Railway Travellers’ Forum (MRTF) also protested against the SER over the matter. MRTF secretary Abhijit Kumar Ram said the sudden snapping of weekly train service will create severe problems for regular commuters and demanded a special train between Baripada and Puri.The MRTF also urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to intervene in the matter in the interests of tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district.

Adivasi Vikas Parishad district chief and president of Special Development Council Dr Debashis Marandi said the forum will request the Chief Minister and the Ministry of Railways for running a weekly special train and introduce a new train on a regular basis between Baripada and Puri.