Bhubaneswar, April 14: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has formally requested the Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, to intervene swiftly and prioritize the development of railway infrastructure in South Odisha.

In a letter, Patra called for urgent central action to address the long-standing neglect of the region's railway development and to fast-track pending projects.

The plea follows a recent protest in Delhi led by the Dakshin Odisha Railpath Unnayan Milita Kriyanusthan Committee and the South Odisha Railway Development Joint Action Committee. These groups, comprising civil society organizations and public representatives from the region, raised serious concerns over the lack of progress in railway infrastructure development.

Key Issues and Demands Highlighted:

1. Pending Approval of Critical Railway Lines: Several vital railway lines remain unapproved or unsanctioned, hampering connectivity and regional growth. These include:
   • Gopalpur–Rairakhol railway line
   • Gopalpur–Mohana–Singapur Road railway line
   • Gopalpur–Talcher railway line via Maa Taratarini Temple. The lack of approval for these projects has had a severe impact on the region's economic integration and development.
2. Projects Stalled at Survey Stage. The Junagarh–Gopalpur railway line, which would pass through Kandhamal, continues to be stuck at the survey stage without any visible progress.
3. Slow Progress of Ongoing Projects. Several ongoing railway projects are moving at a slow pace, including:
   • Gunupur–Theruvali railway line
   • Jeypore–Malkangiri railway line
   • Jeypore–Nabarangpur railway line
4. Inclusion in the National Infrastructure Initiative. The committee has demanded that all pending and proposed railway projects in South Odisha be prioritized and included in national infrastructure initiatives to expedite execution.
5. Underdevelopment of Brahmapur (Berhampur) Railway Station. There is a pressing need to upgrade Brahmapur Railway Station to meet the region's growing transportation demands.
6. Demand for Coaching Depot at Golanthara. The region also seeks the establishment of a new coaching depot at Golanthara to better serve the increasing traffic and improve operational efficiency.

Patra urged Minister Vaishnaw to take immediate action and implement these much-needed reforms to restore public confidence in the railway sector and accelerate regional development in South Odisha.