Berhampur: After the state government was successful in putting the iconic Dakota aircraft of legendary Biju Patnaik on display as a mark of Odisha’s aviation history, the demand has gained ground to showcase the state’s locomotive glory.
“We welcome the Dakota to Odisha as the government initiative would rekindle the spirit of a great leader like Biju babu. At the same time, we need to take steps to bring back at least one of Parlakimedi Light Railway (PLR) locomotives to Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district. It would be a fitting recognition to the vision of the first Premier of Odisha Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and his father Maharaja Goura Chandra Gajapati who introduced the first privately managed Railway in Odisha 123 years ago,” said members of the Appanna Parichha Smruti Sansad.
“The century old Paralakhemundi railway station is being renovated now and we must preserve our heritage to enlighten the younger generations,” they added.
Muralidhar Parichha, organising secretary of the Sansad, said PLR was a two-foot six-inch gauge railway. It was the brainchild of the erstwhile Maharaja of Paralakhemundi which came under the British influence in 1768. The East Coast Railway brought a rail line to Naupada in 1894. The Maharaja of Parlakimedi Goura Chandra Gajapati decided to connect his capital Paralakhemundi with Naupada which was only 40 km away.
“With the government giving its sanction in 1898, work began in full earnest. The line was opened to traffic in 1900. This railway line was built at a cost of Rs 700,000 at the time,” he added.
The standard type of locomotive on PLR was the 20-ton 0-6-4 tank locomotive with small (27-inch diameter) coupled wheels and an axle load of 4.75 ton. The Parlakimedi engines were designated the ‘PL’ class.
Seven PLR locomotives have been preserved at various places. While PL 691 has been plinthed outside Southern Railway Headquarters in Chennai, PL 692 is at BNR Hotel in Puri, PL 693 at Vizianagaram, PL 694 in Vishakhapatnam, PL 695 at Nagpur Narrow gauge museum, PL 697 outside DRM office in Vishakhapatnam and PL 698 has been plinthed at Bengaluru, sources said.
“We demand that the PL 697, which has been plinthed outside DRM office at Vishakhapatnam, should be brought to Paralakhemundi as a mark of respect to the Maharajas who bought the locomotives with their own money to serve the people,” said Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, a researcher on the history and culture of Paralakhemundi.
