Bhubaneswar, Dec 11: A heated exchange erupted in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Wednesday between the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the proposed bifurcation of the Waltair Railway Division.

During the Zero Hour, senior BJD leader Ranendra Pratap Swain alleged a conspiracy to merge the Waltair Railway Division with the South Central Railway Zone based in Vijayawada. He claimed Odisha could face a financial loss of Rs 20,000 crore if the division is relocated.

“The Centre has issued a confidential record on the bifurcation of the Waltair Division. Odisha will suffer massive losses unless a clear vision document and adequate compensation are provided. If our state is harmed, we will protest as Odias and as a regional party. This is highly unfortunate,” Swain asserted.

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo refuted the claims, assuring the House that no railway line from Odisha would be moved to another state. He highlighted that Rs 23,000 crore has been sanctioned for railway development in Odisha, including an Rs 107 crore tender to establish a special railway division in Rayagada.

“East Coast Railway will retain its three divisions, with no revenue loss. Why were BJD MPs silent when the UPA government created the South Division? Now they are causing a ruckus for political mileage,” Singh Deo countered.

Meanwhile, Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the House sine die on Wednesday evening, 18 days ahead of schedule. The Winter Session, which began on November 26, conducted legislative business for only 12 days. Key legislative actions included passing a Rs 12,156 crore supplementary budget.

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