JAGATSINGHPUR: The Paradip-Cuttack Rail Yatri Surkahya Samiti has demanded stoppage of two Express trains plying on Cuttack-Paradip railway line at Gorakhnath railway station which is the nearest station to the district headquarters town of Jagatsinghpur.
As per norms, Express trains should stop at the district headquarters. As Jagatsinghpur does not have a railway station, the locals have demanded that the Express trains should stop at Gorakhnath railway station which is eight kms from the district headquarters.
Though Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off Paradip-Santragachhi Weekly Super Fast Express and Paradip-Visakhapatnam Weekly Express in February linking Paradip Port with other ports of the country, these trains do not stop at Gorakhnath.
“While we welcome introduction of the two trains on Cuttack-Paradip route, we are surprised why Gorakhnath does not figure as a stoppage despite being an important station,” said Samiti convener Prankrushna Nayak. “We appeal to the Indian Railways to announce it as a stoppage for these trains for benefit of local passengers including Government officials, students and women,” he added.
The locals said Gorakhnath not only links to the district headquarters but also has footfall of hundreds of devotees who throng Gorakhnath temple everyday. Stoppage of Express trains here would not only boost the local economy but also benefit the commuters, they added.
Collector Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya said the administration is aware that both the Express trains do not stop at Gorakhnath. He admitted that if the two trains halt at Gorakhnath, it would benefit the local people besides the devotees going there.
Another demand of the area, particularly local trade union leaders is that Indian Railways should open a coach complex at Paradip so that Express trains can stop here. The Samiti has also been demanding train services from Paradip to Mumbai and New Delhi besides extension of Konark Express (plying between Bhubaneswar and Mumbai) to Paradip.
Other demands of the Samiti include upgradation of platforms, provision of toilets and drinking water facilities and over bridges in different stations of the district. The Samiti had also submitted a memorandum to the Railway Ministry in December last year demanding Gorakhnath railway station to be declared as suburban.
A senior railway official said a memorandum was received demanding Paradip-Santragachhi Weekly Express and Paradip-Visakhapatnam Weekly Express to have halt at Gorakhnath and a decision would be taken in this regard soon.
