Bhubaneswar: The Indian Railways has decided to defer its earlier decision to issue train tickets printed in Odia language citing violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Due to the poll code, it has been decided to implement the decision to print train tickets in Odia language after the general elections-2019, a statement issued by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) said here today.
When asked does it really violate the Model Code of Conduct as it was announced much earlier, a senior railway official, requesting anonymity, said, “The Railway Board has taken a decision in this regard keeping the upcoming elections in mind.”
He also said that the Indian Railways has taken this decision in order to avoid any further controversy ahead of the elections after a photo of tea served on a Shatabdi train in paper cups with PM Modi’s campaign line, “Main Bhi Chowkidar (I’m also watchman)”, printed on them went viral on social media a few days ago.
The Indian Railways, in March, had announced that unreserved train tickets will be issued in Odia language apart from Hindi and English from April 1 (on the occasion of Utkal Divas) this year.
The ECoR had stated that the Railways have prepared all station names of Indian Railways in Odia script which will now be implemented in 317 stations in Odisha for the stations under East Coast Railway, South Eastern Railway and South East Central Railway jurisdictions.