Since the BJP formed Government in 2014 at the Centre under leadership of Narendra Modi, concerted efforts are on to weaken the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone, alleged PCC president Niranjan Patnaik.

Odisha’s contribution to the Indian Railways’ total earning is very large and Odisha was put under South Eastern Railway Zone for a long time. After repeated protests and efforts of the Congress party, Eastern Coastal Zone was formed and in 1996 and an Officer on Special duty was appointed at Bhubaneswar. Initially, Khorda Road division was kept under the zone. Later in 2003, the zone was inaugurated. Parts of Andhra, Chhattisgarh were under this zone including Odisha, said Patnaik. However, now before election, one South Coast Zone has been formed with headquarter at Visakhapatnam. Waltair division of East Coast Railway has been dragged away and kept under the new zone with Vijayawada division supervision. This is blatantly anti- Odisha decision which has hurt the sentiments of people of Odisha. But it is astonishing that the two political parties BJD and BJP, which always shed crocodile tears for Odisha, are silent on the issue, Patnaik asserted.

Likewise, the Modi Government has decided to shift the Railway Electrification Office from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru. This is another attempt of Modi to woo Karnataka voters who have already rejected him in the Assembly poll.

 The shifting process will be completed by March 31. After that 4 railway electrification project work in Odisha will be under Danapur office. So the future of these projects amounting Rs 350 crore is in dark. Odias must raise their voice against such step motherly attitude of Centre and the deafening silence of BJD on this and should give a befitting reply to them in the upcoming elections, urged Patnaik.