The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Cuttack residents up in arms against railways

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Cuttack residents up in arms against railways

Correspondent

Introduction of express train with no halt in city the trigger

The train flagged off at Rourkela
Massive protest planned on February 18

CUTTACK: The newly-inaugurated Intercity Express between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar, which was flagged off at Rourkela on Saturday amid massive protests for hurting the sentiments of Oriyas, also left the people of Cuttack city shocked.

The express train would not run via Cuttack railway station, instead the train would travel through Naraj railway track without having any halt anywhere in Cuttack. Reacting sharply to yet another ‘careless’ attitude by the railways to the people of Cuttack city, the Cuttack Bachao Committee has taken up the cudgels yet again against the department.

“We have decided to stage a massive protest at Cuttack railway station on February 18 demanding the train to run through Cuttack station,” said the committee secretary and CPI (M) leader Subash Singh.

He also said that the protest would be also launched to ensure that the doubling of railway tack between Cuttack-Baranga is completed soon.

The activists of the committee, speaking to newsmen here, said at least 11 pairs of trains were now not running through Cuttack city as a result the commuters of the city were suffering a lot.

Track doubling

Mr. Singh said that after repeated protests, the railways had granted Rs. 127.13 crores in 1994-95 for the doubling of the track.

Subsequently more funds were allotted for the project from 2005-06 to 2009-10 fiscal.

“Unfortunately due to callous attitude of the railways, the project has not yet taken the final shape till date and Cuttack station is grossly neglected.

Taking this as a plea, the trains are diverted through Naraj thereby the people of the city are deprived of train facility,” Mr. Singh pointed out.

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