The Forum for Ganjam on Friday wrote to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley urging him to include Brahampur railway station in the list of proposed model railway stations and sanction for a wagon factory at Sitapali in Ganjam district.
The people’s organisation expressed grave concern mentioning that the south Odisha in general and Ganjam in particular have been meted out negligence in the Railway Budget 2018. “We register a strong protest against the apathetic approach of the Union Government to Ganjam district on behalf of the people of Ganjam,” the letter read.
Mentioning that Brahmapur railways station is the oldest station of Odisha opened in 1896, the forum apprised the Minister that the station is one of the highest revenue generating stations in the country. But the station lies neglected for about a century and a quarter. The station is housed in the same century-old dilapidated building and is not connected to prominent cities of the country directly due to the absence of a railway terminal. “Therefore, we demand for the inclusion of Brahmapur Railway station among model railway stations furnished with modern basic amenities in consonance with modern day requirements,” demanded the forum.
Mentioning that a railway wagon factory had been proposed to be set up at Brahmapur in the 2012 Railway Budget, the forum said, “While an initial budgetary allocation of Rs 1 crore had been sanctioned, the State Government provided litigation-free land at Sitalapali.
Unfortunately, nothing has been done yet and this year’s budget is surprisingly silent about it, which has frustrated us badly.
Kindly establish the wagon factory or any other ancillary factory of the railways which will employ at least some of the strong workforce which migrates to different parts of the country as well as the world for earning livelihoods.”