Sundargarh: The core committee of the Talcher-Bimlagarh Rail Link Action Committee (TBRLAC), a forum set up recently by those who participated in the historic Talcher-Bimlagarh railway line agitation of 1969, expressed displeasure at the delay in executing the project. They warned that they would launch a stir demanding early completion of the project.
Addressing the media, the core committee members of TBRLAC claimed that the rail link project was important for the people of Sundargarh district and other areas of the state.
“Since this rail line is the shortest link between the mineral rich belts of Sundargarh and Paradip port, after completion of this project, there will be more development in the state,” said TBRLAC convenor AP Biswal.
“The rail link will also become the shortest rail route between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela,” Biswal added.
Giving the historical background of the agitation under the Student Action Committee, Biswal said in 2003-04 the Centre had formally sanctioned the project.
Initially, the project was to be completed by 2018, but due to the delay in execution the target was revised to 2022. However, that appears to be a far cry now as hardly 10-15 per cent of the work has been done so far,” Biswal added.
We have decided to launch another agitation considering the importance of this project, he said.
Senior CPM leader Bishnu Charan Mohanty, who was an active student leader during the 1969 agitation, and now a core committee member of the TBRLAC, spoke about the action plan of the committee.
“Since the 1969 agitation gained momentum August 20 we have started preparations to organise a mass convention at Bhanja Bhawan Auditorium in Rourkela on the same date symbolizing the completion of 49 years,” Mohanty said.
“We are inviting elected representatives from Sundargarh, Deogarh, Talcher and Angrul to participate in the convention,” Mohanty said.
“A preparatory meeting would be organised August 5 at Bastia Bhavan involving all sections of society. The core committee members of TBRLAC would also organize a press meet at Bhubaneswar August 8 for highlighting the demands of the action committee and importance of the project,” he added.
PNN