Creating a new East Coast Railway Division at Rourkela

To:

Ms Mamata Banerjee , Hon’ble Union Minister of Railways,

Copy to:

Shri Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
Shri K.H.Muniyappa, Hon’ble Minister of State, Railways
Shri E. Ahamed, Hon’ble Minister of State, Railways
Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister , Odisha
Shri T.R. Baalu, Standing Committee Chairman, Railways
Shri Vivek Sahai, Chairman, Railway Board

Respected Madam / Sir,

We ,the people of Rourkela, would like to draw your kind attention towards the plight of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Kendujhargarh districts of Odisha state, which account for the heavy revenue generated by Chakradharpur Division and hence also for South Eastern Railway Zone, but unfortunately remain the most neglected regions in comparison to rail connectivity and facilities in the other part of the country.

Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway has emerged as the highest revenue generating division in the country ,a number of times. The sole reason for this is notable achievement is the mineral rich Chotanagpur Plateau region popularly known as “Ruhr of India” due to its innumerable industries. This region comprises of the mineral rich Sundargarh,Kendujhargarh and Jharsuguda Districts of Odisha from where Iron Ore and other minerals are transported throughout the country.

The region also has a number of heavy industries like Rourkela Steel Plant, Rourkela; OCL-Rajgangpur; Tata Refractories, Belpahar,Adhunik Metalliks-Rourkela; L&T- Kansbahal , Bhusan Steel and Powers –Jharsuguda; Vedanta-Jharsuguda; GOCL,Rourkela etc. which pay a huge amount to the railways for transportation of raw materials as well as finished products. Hence a lot of freight activity is noticed in this region.
Odisha state has got 2495 kms. of railway route,of which 337 kms.the highest in the state, passes through Sundargarh District. Only Sundargarh district generates about Rs 800 crores annually, which accounts for 40% of the total revenue generated by Chakradharpur Division. Similarly Jharsuguda is an emerging industrial hub with a number of operating mega projects, while a number of industries are in the offing. Kendujhargarh is popular for its innumerous mines. So its natural that the people will have high expectations from the Railway Budget every year but most of the times they are met with empty hands.

IMPORTANT FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CREATION OF NEW DIVISION

1. Repeated neglecting by Chakradharpur Division and South Eastern Railways :

Passenger services remain neglected, in one of the most industrialized regions of the country. The region lacks basic infrastructure and mostly serves the movement of freight than serving the needy railway passengers in the absence of adequate number of trains.

The region which is considered as one of the most backward pockets of the country with a huge tribal population, has been deprived of the basic railway infrastructure and this is considered as the biggest stumbling block in the development of the region and its principal urban center, Rourkela – Rajgangpur- Jharsuguda area . Lack of proper communication facilities and infrastructure has led to the increase of naxalite activities in the region.

Out of the total 741.705 route kms of Chakradharpur Division, 405.907 kms are located in the state of Odisha covering about 50 stations out of the total 87 stations of Chakradharpur Division.
Out of the three A-Class stations of Chakradharpur Division , two i.e. Rourkela and Jharsuguda are in Odisha.
Despite of all the above mentioned points, the condition of these stations are miserable as per the following points.

I. Insufficient trains to cater the needs of the people of the region.
II. Proper care of stations is not taken and many low class stations are in a tottering condition with poor sanitation facilities.
III. No developmental acitivity in the station complex or in the circulating area of the station.
IV. Poor connectivity with many parts of the country.
V. No major railway projects like new railway lines or establishment of any manufacturing unit undertaken since independence.
VI. No proper public health care service.

As far as the deficit of railway infrastructure in Rourkela city is concerned, unmet demands, unfulfilled promises and false assurances galore as citizens of Rourkela City wait with bated breath for another Union Railway Budget, every year. Despite being an A-class station and model station, Rourkela is still deprived of such facilities.A number of times ,many organizations from Rourkela have raised vital issues with the higher authorities of South Eastern Railways, but they seem to have taken no interest in all these.

Every time due to natural calamity or any insurgent activity, Rourkela has to bear the brunt as trains are either cancelled or diverted, as it is happening in case of Utkal and Samaleswari with NO ALTERNATIVE arrangement. Every time in the name of no feasibility and technical problems, each and every genuine demand of Rourkela is being turned down.

Talcher-Bimalagarh railway route which could have been a boon to the tribal districts of Sundargarh and Keonjhar is being overlooked since 1885 after the positive cost and benefit analysis. This route could have proved a boon for the people North – east districts of Odisha as it could have accelerated the development of the region as well as improved connectivity to Coastal Odisha especially between Rourkela City and the capital city of Bhubaneswar. This route would also provide an easy access to Paradeep port from the Chotanagpur Industrial Belt .Even now the funding is much less for this project and the current rate it will take more 20 years to be completed.

Not even 10 percent of the total revenue generated is spent on this area. So these are some of the major issues which has created an atmosphere of disgust and hatred for South Eastern Railways in general and Chakradharpur Division in particular, among the people of these districts. The remedy to this problem is to create a new Rourkela Division, administered by East Coast Railways.

2. Advantages of being placed in East Coast Railways

After the creation of a full phase Railway Zone known as the East Coast Railway in 2003 most of the state was put under the zone with the divisions Khurda Road, Sambalpur and Waltair (Visakhapatnam). While the high revenue yielding stations of Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Barbil, Bondamunda,Belpahar,Brajarajnagar etc. were placed under Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway and Bilaspur Division of South East Central Railway.

Since then East Coast Railways has created a saga of success and development, while the stations of Odisha under South Eastern Railways have been put in COLD STORAGE. One can easily judge the rapid growth of East Coast Railways by its well maintainance of its low class stations.

3. Creation of a new railway zone at Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam(Waltair) is now being considered to be developed as a new railway zone including the Andhra districts of Visakhapatnam,Srikakulam and Vizianagram. Hence in the same justified manner , Rourkela Division should be constituted with the Odisha districts of Sundargarh,Keonjhar and Jharsuguda, which will benefit more than 50 lakhs people.

Sambalpur Division of East Coast Railways covers much part of Western Odisha but generates only Rs. 322 crores of revenue annually, while only Sundargarh district generates Rs 800 crores in a year and with the districts of Jharsuguda and Keonjhar ,the figure goes upto Rs 2000 crores or more. Hence the potential of the region should not be neglected.

Proposed Rourkela Division can consist of the following routes

• Rourkela-Biramitrapur
• Rourkela-Nuagaon
• Rourkela-Jaraikela
• Rourkela-Barsuan-Kiriburu Mines
• Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Brajarajnagar-Belpahar
• Bimalagarh-Talcher railway route ( faster completion needed)
• Bansapani-Bimalagarh route (work initiation needed)
• Kiriburu-Gua
• Kiriburu-Bolanikhadan
• Jharsuguda-Sundargarh-Talsara

The expected station list under Rourkela Division are as follows

1.Rourkela Junction 2.Jharsuguda Junction 3.Bimalagarh Junction 4.Bondamunda Junction 5.Bisra 6.Bhalulata 7.Jaraikela 8.Manoharpur 9.Kuarmunda 10.Quarry Siding 11.Panposh 12.Bangurkela 13.Bispur 14.Nuagaon(Nawagaon) 15.Dumetra/Dumerta 16.Lathikata 17.Champajharan 18.Chandiposh 19.Patasahi 20.Gagnapose 21.Barsuan 22. Roxi 23.Rangra 24.Tupadih 25.Karampada 26.Kiriburu 27.Kalunga 28.Kanshbahal 29.Rajgangpur 30.Sonakhan 31.Sagra 32.Garpos 33.Tangarmunda 34.Bamra 35.Dharuadih 36.Bagdihi 37.Panpali 38.Dhutra 39.Brundamal 40.Lapanga 41.Rengali 42.Ib 43. Brajarajnagar 44.Belpahar 45.Hemagiri 46.Gua 47.Barjamda 48.Bolanikhadan 49.Barbil 50.Noamundi 51.Padapahar 52.Deojhar 53. Murga Mahadev 54.Banspani 55. Jaroli 56.Hemagiri 57.Daghora 58.Jamga 59.Kotarlia 60.Nayagarh 61.Goaldih 62. Porjanpur 63. Kendujhargarh

The vacant bungalows in Bondamunda can be used for activities of the railway division and the ARM office at Bondamunda can be upgraded to DRM office. Rourkela has sufficient infrastructure and potential to be the headquarters of the new division.

Hence it’s a sincere request to you, to consider the early creation of Rourkela Railway Division, administered by East Coast Railways for the betterment of the residents of Rourkela as well as the whole of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Keonjhar districts.

Awaiting your noble action on this vital and genuine demand which can be a win-win situation for Railway Department and citizens of Odisha.

Thanking you