Hazaribagh, Jan. 20: Amid protests, the district administration today decided to stop construction work of the proposed model railway station in Kud village.

Deputy commissioner Alakh Deo Prasad said the government has been asked for further instructions.

More than 500 villagers, including women and children, led by Janata Dal-U president Gautam Sagar Rana marched to the construction site.

The people came out with the slogan, Paise de do, Bhumi le lo (Give money and acquire land), stalling the efforts to construct a model station in Hazaribagh.

Rana reached Kud village and called a meeting of the villagers. After chalking out a strategy to counter the administration, Rana came to the site with the villagers to court arrest. But deputy commissioner Prasad invited them for talks. A team led by Rana and Loknath Sao, president of Kud Bhoomi Adhigrahit Samiti, met the deputy commissioner along with other officials including superintendent of police (SP) Anurag Gupta and subdivisional officer Puja Singhal.

Even if the officers were transferred, the project will remain here for the benefit of the people, Prasad said.

He asked them not to hinder work and wait for a court decision as villagers had also filed a case in the court.

But Rana refused Prasad’s request and said the administration should ensure appropriate payment first or face agitation.

He said the land rate in Kud was Rs 64,000 per decimal and villagers were demanding Rs 32,000 for a decimal against present Rs 20,000 per decimal fixed by administration. He said the administration paid Rs 48,000 for a decimal of land in Barhi and Kujju. Deputy chief railway engineer SushilX Kumar said the total 105 acres was acquired in Kud. He said the villagers received compensation against 40 acres and till the matter was solved they wanted to work on these 40 acres.