Coal Transport Halt at Barbil Railway Siding Triggers Severe Traffic Jam and Pollution Crisis

Barbil: The mining town of Barbil in Keonjhar district is grappling with a major disruption in daily life due to the disorganised coal transport operations at the local railway siding.

For the past 12 days, iron ore dispatches from AMNS’s Thakurani Mines have come to a standstill, resulting in hundreds of heavy vehicles queuing up for loading at the siding. This has led to massive traffic congestion across key routes in the city, severely affecting school transportation, office commutes, and public movement.

School Buses Delayed, Children at Risk
Due to the gridlock, school buses are unable to reach institutions on time. Many are forced to take longer detours, causing delays and raising safety concerns among parents.

The situation has sparked widespread anxiety over the well-being of students.

Daily Commuters Face Hazards
Office-goers and market-bound residents are navigating through dangerous conditions, as overloaded dumpers spill coal onto the roads, worsening both traffic and air quality. Illegal roadside parking by heavy vehicles has further narrowed the passage, compounding the chaos.

Transport Indiscipline Fuels the Crisis
Sources report that some transporters are bypassing the queue and overtaking to gain early access to loading bays, leaving others stranded for two to three days.

The weighbridge area has also become a hotspot for congestion and pollution due to unregulated loading and unloading activities.

Police Intervention and Warning Issued
Barbil Police Station IIC Ashok Kumar Nayak visited the site following public complaints. He instructed transporters to streamline operations and warned of legal action against traffic rule violators.

Citizens Demand Urgent Administrative Action
Local residents have urged the administration to implement strict measures to regulate coal transport and restore normalcy. The call for action includes safeguarding schoolchildren, ensuring cleaner roads, and preventing further disruption to civic life.