Bhubaneswar, July 07: Train services were affected in Orissa on Tuesday by a two-hour state-wide ‘rail roko’ agitation held by BJD workers in protest against reduced allocation for ongoing projects in the Railway budget.
About half-a-dozen trains were stopped by BJD activists at several places, including Balugaon, Khurda Road, Berhampur and Jharsuguda, during demonstrations at railway stations, railway officials here said.
The demonstrators blocked tracks at major stations like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Khurda Road, raising slogans against the Railway budget.
Saying the budget ignored the interests of Orissa, BJD general secretary Narendra Swain said only Rs 715.22 crore had been allocated as against last year’s Rs 949.34 crore.
A railway official said the agitaion was peaceful and elaborate security arrangements were made to deal with it.
Activists of the youth wing of the BJD also staged a demonstration here against the rail budget.
–PTI