Berhampur: The construction work of the heritage Paralakhemundi and Gunupur railway stations in Odisha as part of the redevelopment project would be completed by December 2024.
This was stated by Parameshwar Funkwal, general manager of East Coast Railway (ECoR) during his recent visit to Paralakhemundi railway station. The Railways would take up the extension work from Gunupur to Therubali after the land acquisition process completes, he said.
Gajapati Surakhya Manch Paralakhemundi, led by its convenor Basant Kumar Panda submitted a 9-point charter of demands relating to Paralakhemundi railway station to Funkwal. The demands included early completion of platform number 1, early construction of Foot Over Bridge (FOB), construction of one extra loop line, increasing the speed of the trains on Naupada-Gunupur line, extension of Bhubaneswar-Palasa MEMU train upto Paralakhemundi, extension of Gunupur-Visakhapatnam train upto Gunturu, opening of crossing stations at Kasinagar and Temburu to avoid unnecessary delay of the trains between Naupada and Gunupur line, attachment of AC Chair Car to Gunupur-Visakhapatnam train, introduction of a morning train from Gunupur to Visakhapatnam for the greater interest of the daily passengers from these areas to Visakhapatnam for official, medical, tourist and business purposes.
The general manager said steps have already been taken to increase the speed of the trains between Naupadaand Gunupur and the ECoR was also planning to ply more trains on this line.
It may be noted that INTACH Odisha Charter has raised the issue of preserving the historical Paralakhemundi railway station. It is bringing out a pictorial book on the history and heritage of the Paralakimedi Light Railway (PLR) which will be released when the new railway station is inaugurated.
A replica of the vintage rail engine of the ‘Parlakimidi Light Railway’ (PLR) was mounted on a pedestal constructed at the entrance of the Paralakhemundi railway station as part of the redevelopment project on July 7 last. The original 20-ton 0-6-0 tank locomotive with small (27-inch diameter) coupled wheels and an axle load of only 4.75 tons and all India number PL 691 was built by ‘Kerr Stuart’ and is now plinthed outside Southern Railway Headquarters in Chennai.