New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, December 16: A delegation of BJD MPs from Rajya Sabha on Friday met Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi and urged him to start passenger services on Paradip-Haridaspur railway line for the benefit of the people of Kendrapara district.
The MPs including Sasmit Patra, Amar Patnaik, Sujeet Kumar, Sulata Deo, Mamata Mahanta and Niranjan Bishi also submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister highlighting the demand.
“Railways and their development in Odisha have been historically neglected in the last 75 years. Successive Governments have not given adequate attention to the state in terms of railways connectivity,” stated the memorandum.
“The Odisha Government under leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been providing free land and 50 per cent project cost for various Railway projects in Odisha. The railway line between Paradip-Haridaspur railway line is open for goods and commercial traffic but has not been opened for passengers. This railway line connects people of Kendrapara to the railway network,” it stated.
“We request you to kindly start the passenger services for the Paradip-Haridaspur railway line which will ensure that after 75 years of Indian Independence, the people of Kendrapada would benefit from railway connectivity,” read the memorandum.
The MPs sought support and cooperation of the Railways Minister for undertaking these railway activities at the earliest in the greater interests of the people of Odisha.
