Bhubaneswar : The merger of seven stations with newly created South Coast Railway zone won’t affect the Odisha headquartered East Coast Railway.
A Indian Railways clarification released by PIB has said that certain concerns have been raised regarding some stations included in the new South Coast Railway stations. The factual position is clarified below:
● Palasa – Ichchapuram Section (~ 50 km) consists of 7 stations namely Palasa, Summadevi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi and Ichchapuram. All these stations are situated in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. None of these stations is located within Odisha.
● These stations are small to mid-sized stations handling primarily passenger traffic. None of them is a major freight loading point.
● Therefore, ECoR’s revenue remains unaffected.
● Pass-through freight traffic (trains transiting through these stations en route) will continue uninterrupted regardless of which zone’s jurisdiction the stations fall under.
● Railway operations are seamless across zonal boundaries.
● No disruption to train services. All existing trains including Palasa–Bhubaneswar, Palasa–Cuttack, and Ichchapuram–Cuttack MEMU/passenger services will continue to operate without any change in schedule, route, or frequency.
● This is a technical revision to ensure smooth functioning of the passenger services in Vishakapatnam division.
● The modalities of the transfer, including staff deployment, are being finalised between ECoR and SCoR. The interests and service conditions of all railway employees will be fully protected as per established norms.
● Government’s commitment to Odisha is unwavering. Record capital expenditure on railway network expansion in Odisha, station modernisation, Vande Bharat services, and the newly created Rayagada Division under ECoR are evidence of this commitment.
