Bhubaneswar: Residents of Rangamatia and its nearby areas have demanded that the state government consider their request for stoppage of all inter-city and fast passenger trains at Mancheswar railway station. They also want a railway underpass to come up near the station for smooth commutation.

The residents, under the banner Rangamatia Social Development Forum, have submitted a memorandum to state commerce and transport department to consider their demands. The state, in turn, has forwarded the demands to the East Coast Railway and asked them to examine the matter expeditiously and submit a report on its feasibility.

The residents have written that thousands of people living in Rangamatia and nearby areas would be benefited greatly if inter-city and fast passenger trains halted at the railway station.

"The trains now stop at Bhubaneswar railway station, which is seven kilometres away from Mancheswar. Both the local residents and visitors to Nandankanan would be benefitted if trains stop here. This will also boost the livelihood option for the local people," said Jagannath Mohapatra, a member of the forum.

At present, about 34 trains, mainly the slow passenger ones, halt at Mancheswar railway station while other fast passenger and inter-city or inter-state trains do not stop here. The station has four platforms and is not developed properly in line with a full-fledged railway station. The nearby stations are Patia and Vani Vihar.

East Coast Railway sources said that they were already in the process of developing the Bhubaneswar New station, which was very near to Mancheswar.

"Trains will not only halt at the new station, but all the south-bound trains will originate from there. It will benefit the local residents. However, we will examine if we would be able to stop trains at Mancheswar also," said a railway official.