‘Let Govt take project with priority’

The demand for early completion of the Talcher-Bimlagarh railway line got momentum here on Monday with leading political parties, trade unions and volunteer organisations extending their wholehearted support to the cause in a State level convention, organised by the Talcher-Bimlagarh Rail Link Action Committee (TBRLAC).

The people from areas like Deogarh, Pallahada and Angul area also attended the convention and raised their demand for the project.

TBRLAC convener AP Biswal, while delivering the key note address, mentioned that the proposal of Talcher-Bimlagarh rail link project was originally generated during inception of Rourkela Steel Plant by the German engineers, since they wanted to connect the steel city with Paradip port.  "The proposal was not taken up then due to financial constraint. The demand for the project was raised in 1969 with the initiative of Student Action Committee," Biswal said, adding, "Although the project has been funded in every year railway budget, there has not been any significant headway due to delay in land acquisition."

Speaking on the occasion, senior CPM leader and a core committee member of TBRLAC Bistnu Mohanty said the action committee will go for economic blockade, if the project is not completed within next one year. "The committee has planned to organise conventions and mass demonstrations at several locations in the proposed route map of the railline like Barkote, Pallahada, Deogarh, Talcher and Angul etc," Mohanty informed.

Harihara Routray, another core committee member of the TBRLAC, demanded that besides giving priority, the State Government should wave stamp duty and registration fees on the private land that is to be procured for the project as done in Khurda - Bolangir project.

Among others, Rajgangpur MLA Mangala Kissan, Bonei MLA Laxman Munda spoke. Munda announced that a railroko programme would be organised at Bimlagarh, under his leadership on August 30.