Bhubaneswar, April 17: Rail service was affected on Howrah-Mumbai route for about an hour this morning as activists of Rourkela Steering Development Committee (RSDC) squatted on railway tracks near Rourkela rail station. They demanded a separate railway division and extension of a few trains.

However, train service was normalised after police picked up about 250 activists from Rourkela station for attempting to obstruct train movement.

They were later released on bond after being detained at a temporary lock-up at Sector 18 Social House for sometime.

“We will continue our agitation till the railway authorities fulfil our demands,” RSDC advisor Bishnu Mohanty told the media this afternoon.

“Though railways has been earning 35 per cent of its commercial revenue from Rourkela, it has been neglecting the area and no steps have been taken to fulfil the longstanding demands of the residents of this area despite repeated pleas,” said Mohanty.

The major demands of RSDC included creation of a railway division for Rourkela, setting up of a railway terminus, construction of a washing ward and introduction of new trains.

“The state government has taken the matter seriously and discussed the issue with the railway authorities,” said additional district magistrate of Rourkela Sachin R. Jadav. Naveen Patnaik had met the railway officials on Friday and discussed with them the demands of the residents of Rourkela. The railway authorities had reportedly assured to consider running of two trains — Puri-Nizamuddin Kalianga Utkal Express and Sambalpur-Howrah Samaleswari Express — through Rourkela.

The district administration had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC from last night after the talks with the RSDC delegation failed.

Deepak Kumar, superintendent of police, Rourkela said 28 platoons of police forces were deployed in the steel city to maintain law & order during the rail roko agitation.