Phulbani, Nov 10: Normal life has remained out of gear in Kandhamal district due to a 12-hour shutdown called against the exclusion of Phulbani from the Gopalpur-Sambalpur Via Phulbani railway project.

The Kandhamal Development Council has called the dawn-to-dusk shutdown.

Notably, Phulbani, the district headquarters town of Kandhamal district, was included in the Gopalpur-Sambalpur railway project in 2022 in the survey conducted by Odisha Rail Infrastructure Development Limited (ORIDL), a joint venture company of the state government (51 percent) and the Ministry of Railways (49 percent). But in 2023, Phulbani was left out of the final ORIDL survey. That is why the Kandhamal Development Council has called for the Bandh.

"The final survey for the Brahmapur-Sambalpur railway project has been completed. While Phulbani was part of the project in the primary ORIDL survey, the final report shows its exclusion. This means the longstanding aspiration of the people of Kandhamal district to have railway facilities has been neglected," lamented the posters.

Due to the shutdown, vehicular movement has been disrupted and shops and bazaars remained closed in many parts of the district. Schools, colleges and government offices have also remained closed.

"We will intensify our agitation if Phulbani is not included in the railway project at the earliest," threatened the protestors. 

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