(From top) Railway authorities erected iron pillars in 2006 and partially closed the road leading to Bhubaneswar railway station. Local residents believe the wall of laterite stones, which is being built on the remaining portion of the road, will prevent easy access to the station. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, May 5: Residents of Ashok Nagar are angry over the move of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) authorities to construct a wall along the road connecting Bhubaneswar railway station with the Kalpana Square-Raj Mahal link road.

This road provides access to areas such as Gautam Nagar, Bapuji Nagar and Ashok Nagar. In a letter to the general manager, ECoR, the residents have said that the railway authorities have already partially closed the road by erecting iron pillars.

Now, they are constructing a wall with laterite stones along the road, which would deprive the local people of reaching the railway station easily.

They fear that after erecting the wall, the railway authorities might even close the passage that is now partially closed with iron pillars, causing total closure of the road, which existed there since the establishment of the state capital.

Freedom fighter and former MP Bhabani Charan Patnaik said: “Earlier, people coming by trains used to directly walk down to Ashok Nagar, Bapuji Nagar, Gautam Nagar and Kalpana by taking the road. The railway authorities should not close the road or even plan to do so in future. We fail to understand that when all other passages near the station are wide open, why are the authorities hell bent on closing down the passage near Ashok Nagar.”

Subhranshu Rath, working president of Ashok Nagar Nagarik Committee, said: “For long, our committee has been protesting the closure plan of the road. We have drawn the attention of the authorities several times, but to no avail.

“Of late, they started constructing the wall ignoring our pleas. We will be compelled to take to streets if the authorities go ahead to close the road completely, denying access to the public.”

Councillor of ward No. 43 Guru Charan Sahoo said: “Earlier, the entire road was an open thoroughfare, but taking plea of some technical work, the railway authorities started erecting iron pillars in 2006.

“But if they try to close the road completely, there will be protest as the road helps in clearing traffic when the Janpath near the Master Canteen Square suffers from traffic congestion due to various rallies and processions.”

Contacted, railway officials admitted that in many areas of Ashok Nagar, their land have been encroached upon.

Clarifying the railway’s stand, senior divisional engineer (central) Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi said: “There is no plan to close the road or bar entry of people from Ashok Nagar side. The wall is erected on railway land for safety purposes. But the road will remain open as it is.”