Keonjhar: Delay in the arrival of Bhubaneswar – Keonjhar Memu train regularly has fuelled resentment among the residents of Keonjhar district. The Memu train had been introduced in place of the intercity express without citing any reason. The train reached Keonjhargarh railway station Friday midnight at around 12.30 am instead of the normal arrival time of 9.40 pm. Sources said that the train had arrived Thursday night at 10.49 pm, at 10.41 pm Wednesday and at 11.21 pm Tuesday. As the train is arriving at Keonjhargarh railway station late every day, it is causing hassles to the passengers. Sources said that the Memu train leaves Keonjhar in the morning to Bhubaneswar.
Therefore, many feel comfortable in traveling by train to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar for official work, health checkups, the high court works or catching a flight or train to some other cities. The train also helps them come back to Keonjhar after finishing work, in time. The scheduled arrival time in Keonjhar is 9.40 pm. However, the delay in the arrival time is putting people in various difficulties. Many fail to go to their villages at late night due to lack of proper conveyance facilities and have to spend the cold night on the platform. Many passengers fail to get any accommodation as there is no hotel or lodging in the vicinity of the railway station. A local resident, Himanshu Sahu, who usually depends on the train said due to the late arrival of people, mostly coming from interior, areas are facing problems in getting food, conveyance, and boarding facilities for night stay.
Besides, the toilet in the train seems to be of no use for the passengers due to poor maintenance. Sahu alleged that the railway authorities are neglecting the interest of passengers to safeguard the interest of mineral-carrying trains. The arrival time of the Memu train is getting delayed as the railway authorities allow mineral-carrying trains to move first by detaining the passenger train on the way, they alleged. Several complaints in this regard have fallen in deaf ears. “We will stage agitations if the problem is not resolved at earliest” warned Santosh Mohapatra, a member, Keonjhar Yuva Parishad in the town. The intercity express train has been running from Keonjhar to Bhubaneswar smoothly since 2014.
However, the department is now running the Memu train in its place which has resulted in problems, locals alleged. When contacted, Kalyan Patnaik, additional divisional railway manager, Khurda said he is not aware of the problems, including the delay in the arrival of the Memu train. He, however, assured to personally look into the matter.