Sasmit Patra Urges Odisha-Centric Railway Zone for Better Connectivity

Bhubaneswar, April 15: Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra has strongly advocated for the creation of an Odisha-centric railway zone, urging Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to address concerns arising from the restructuring of the Waltair Division.

Patra highlighted that the reorganization fragmented key railway lines historically tied to Odisha’s economy, including the Koraput–Kirandul (KK) Line, Naupada–Gunupur Line, and the Palasa–Ichchapuram section, which now fall under split jurisdictions between East Coast Railway and South Coast Railway.

He argued that this division has weakened operational continuity, disrupted intra-state coordination, and diluted Odisha’s influence over vital freight corridors.

The KK Line, crucial for transporting minerals from Odisha’s resource-rich regions, has been particularly affected.

Patra proposed restoring Odisha-linked sections under a unified framework or establishing a dedicated Odisha Railway Zone to ensure revenue retention, better planning, and stronger administrative coherence.