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BJP launches economic blockade in Keonjhar

BHUBANESWAR: Irked over the pitiable condition of roads in the mineral-rich district of Keonjhar district, thousands of local people on Sunday joined an indefinite economic blockade programme organised by Bharatiya Janata Party demanding immediate repair of the National Highway No. 215. Angry villagers staged demonstrations on the highway at several locations bringing vehicular movement in the region to a standstill badly affecting transportation of minerals in the State.

Over 15,000 trucks carrying iron ore ply on the National Highway No. 215 which is in a bad shape in since long.

The road, from Panikoili to Rajamanda, was declared a highway in 1999, but it has not been converted as a highway so far and continues to be a single lane road. The protestors also stopped a goods train going to Paradip Port carrying iron ore at Barbil. As the blockade continued across the district, a group of BJP started a relay hunger strike at the district headquarter town Keonjhar to highlight their demands. According to the leaders of the Keonjhar district unit of the BJP, the blockade would continue till the government started repair and restoration work on NH 215.

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