July 12th 2024.
Residents of Keonjhar district in Odisha have been waiting for the construction of a direct railway link between Joda's Banspani and Barbil railway stations for the past seven years. This much-needed project was initially mentioned in the Budget but sadly, it remains a mere dream. However, recent reports suggest that there is some progress being made in the neighboring state of Jharkhand, where the railway route under the Chakradharpur division of the South Eastern Railways is being considered.
The people of Keonjhar are in a state of discontent as their repeated requests for the construction of this rail link have been ignored by the authorities. The absence of this link has caused great inconvenience to the residents, who have to rely on a 60-70 km detour via the Puri-Barbil train to travel between the two stations. This has not only resulted in longer travel time but also put the passengers at risk of accidents.
According to Basant Mohanty, a member of the Barbil Civil Society, more than 40 mines in the Barbil mining area rely on road transportation for their minerals. This has led to numerous accidents, causing loss of lives and properties. The construction of the rail link would not only provide a safer mode of transportation but also boost the economy by connecting Barbil with the district headquarters town of Keonjhar.
Moreover, the completion of this rail route will also benefit the transportation of iron ores from the Barbil and Bolani areas to ports like Paradip and Dhamra, as well as various industries within the state. It would also help in reducing road accidents and ensure safe commuting for the locals. However, despite the Puri-Barbil train being operational since 2009, the lack of a direct rail link has resulted in a four-hour journey, causing inconvenience to passengers and revenue loss for the railways.
Rasanand Behera, another member of the Barbil Civil Society, stated that the Railway Budget presented in 2016-17 had proposed the construction of this rail route. However, no progress has been made on the ground so far. Even though the state government had proposed to construct the route with district mineral foundation funds and allocated a budget of RS 363.38 crore, the project has failed to take off.
Adding to the frustration, the rail routes in the mining areas fall under the Chakradharpur division of the South Eastern Railways in Jharkhand. Locals and members of the civil society have been demanding for the inclusion of these routes under the East Coast Railways, Khurda for the past 12 years. It is high time that the authorities take note of the people's demands and fulfill their long-awaited dream of a direct railway link between Banspani and Barbil.
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