Odisha youth body protests exclusion of Waltair division from ECoR

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, July 2:

Ama Adhikar, an Odisha based youth organizatio, today staged a demonstration in front of the Rail Kunj, the headquartesr of East Coast Railways (ECoR), here protesting against the Central Government decision to shift the Waltair division from ECoR to Andhra Pradesh. They demanded immediate reversal of the decision.

The organization submitted a memorandum addressed to the Union Railway Minister through the General Manager, ECoR, Bhubaneswar seeking his intervention in the  matter.

Shouting anti-government slogans, members of the organisation slammed the Narendra Modi government stating that his government had failed to keep its promises given during the election.

Amiya Pandav, coordinator of the outfit, informed that after a prolonged gitation, the Central government formed the ECoR with its headquarters in Bhubaneswar. Its presence helped a lot in the development of railways, besides boosting the economy in the state. “We have come to know that Central Government has now decided to take back the Waltair division out from ECoR, which is a very important division of it. Important destinations of remote and hilly areas of Odisha such as Rayagada, Koraput and Laxmipur come under the Waltair division. It serves the people of south Odisha and we will not allow its annexation to Andhra Pradesh”.

This apart, the outfit also demanded inclusion of Rourkela, Brajaraj Nagar, Jharsuguda and Belpahar in ECoR after shifting them from South Eastern Railways and also adds Balasore, Baripada and Bangiriposi which does not comes under ECoR at present.