In Bhubaneswar, ten non-BJP parties, including Congress and BJD, protested on Thursday, accusing the central government of undermining the East Coast Railway Zone based in Odisha.
Gathering under the banner of United Opposition Parties, Odisha, senior leaders from BJD, Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Forward Bloc, NCP, RJD, Samanta Kranti, and JMM participated in a sit-in demonstration outside the ECoR Zone headquarters.
They submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, demanding the immediate restoration of the Waltair Railway Division to the East Coast Railway Zone, the cancellation of the decision to transfer the Palasa ‘Ichchapuram railway section’, and the inclusion of all railway sections traversing Odisha within the East Coast Railway Zone.
The parties also called for the incorporation of railway lines through Sundergarh, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Jharsuguda districts into the East Coast Railway Zone.
“We also demand to ensure Odisha receives its rightful share in railway revenue, employment, and infrastructure development,” the memorandum stated.
CPI(M) state secretary Suresh Panigrahy indicated that the united opposition would continue to address railway issues and other matters vital to the state’s interests in the future.
