Odisha MP Urges Railway Minister to Reconsider Waltair Division Restructuring
Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has formally appealed to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging a thorough reconsideration of the recent restructuring of the Waltair railway division. In a detailed letter submitted on Wednesday, Patra emphasized that this administrative reorganization has severely fragmented Odisha's railway network, creating significant operational challenges and weakening the state's control over its critical infrastructure.
Fragmentation of Key Railway Corridors
The MP highlighted that the reorganization of the proposed Visakhapatnam railway division under the South Coast Railway (SCoR) has resulted in railway lines that are intrinsically linked to Odisha's geography, economy, and internal connectivity being split across multiple railway zones. This fragmentation has led to operational inefficiencies and diluted the state's stake in its own infrastructure development.
A major concern raised by Patra involves the Koraput-Kirandul (KK) line, which serves as a critical mineral freight corridor. Although officially shown under the proposed Rayagada division of the East Coast Railway (ECoR), parts of this line in Andhra Pradesh are administered by SCoR. Patra argued that this breaks a historically unified railway line, complicating freight prioritization, maintenance planning, and future upgrades. Furthermore, it diverts revenue generated from Odisha's mineral-rich regions outside the state-centric railway framework.
Administrative Inconsistencies and Revenue Division
Similar issues have emerged on the Naupada-Gunupur railway line, which is now split between SCoR headquartered at Visakhapatnam and ECoR headquartered at Bhubaneswar. "This dual administration weakens integrated regional planning, creates service inconsistencies, and divides passenger and freight revenue linked to Odisha," Patra stated in his letter.
The MP also raised strong objections to the placement of the Palasa-Ichchapuram section under SCoR. Patra warned that administering this entire stretch outside ECoR limits Odisha's influence over infrastructure planning, station development, and service prioritization, despite its direct impact on districts like Ganjam and Gajapati.
Coordination Challenges and Long-Term Solutions
Another critical issue highlighted is the absence of a direct railway linkage between Khurda Road division, the headquarters of East Coast Railway, and the proposed Rayagada division. Patra noted that intra-Odisha coordination increasingly depends on routes passing through another railway zone, raising serious concerns over disaster response, operational control, and freight management.
Collectively, Patra asserted that the Waltair restructuring has led to:
- Division of continuous railway lines
- Increased inter-zonal dependency
- Diffusion of revenue generated from Odisha's passengers and resources
Calling for immediate corrective measures, he urged the railways to restore Odisha-linked corridors under an Odisha-centric administrative framework. As a long-term solution, Patra renewed the demand for a separate and unified Odisha Railway Zone, an idea earlier proposed by former chief minister Naveen Patnaik. This would ensure cohesive planning, revenue retention, and stronger railway governance aligned with the state's specific needs and development priorities.
Earlier, ECoR had clarified that the transfer of the Palasa-Ichchapuram section from ECoR to SCoR would not affect its revenue. However, Patra's letter underscores broader concerns about administrative coherence and state-level control over critical transportation infrastructure.
