senior citizens demand renovation of Sambalpur Road station

Senior citizens of Sambalpur expressed concern over the apathetic attitude of the railway authority towards the improvement of the Sambalpur Road railway station. The Station that locates heart of the town is one of the busiest stations in the east coast railways as hundreds of commuters start their journey from the station every day. “The volume of tickets sell every day will speak the truth. But knowing well about the importance of the station for the people of Sambalpur, railway authority takes no step on the improvement the station”, Loknath Panda, convener of the senior citizen forum said.

The forum has decided put forth a memorandum to the railway authority to ensure the improvement of the railway station.  “We met on Sunday and decided put fourth our grievances before the railway authority on the improvement of the railway station”, Panda said.

According to him, the station has 3 platforms but the railway authority does not take any interest on the improvement of the station. The condition of plat form number number one speaks the apathetic attitude of the department toward the station.  “Passengers face difficulties while getting down from the train because of the   height of the platform as it remains drastically low We have been demanding numerous times but the railway authority gives no heeds on it”, Panda said. 

Sources said, the railway authority was once planned to close down the station because of smooth running of rail traffic. But the plan could not work out because of the vehement opposition of the local people. The railway authority gives no interest on the improvement of the station ever since decision of closing down the station was taken up.

“Though at present there is no such order of railway authority to close down the station, but we apprehend such an order soon. For which we do not want to spend money on the station”, DRM (Sambalpur) AV Prasad said. On the other hand people have warned the railways to bring a massive agitation in case there is any such decision to close down the station.