East Coast Railway has formed special squads to crack down on coal theft from wagons and other such illegal activity.
It has expressed concern over rampant coal theft in the Bhadrak-Dhamara Port Pvt railway line which is not under its jurisdiction.
It has alerted the staff in this regard and said stern action will be taken against such miscreants.
Frequent patrolling, deputation of staff in sensitive areas have been made to check coal theft from goods trains . The railways noted that many instances of theft have been occurring on the Bhadrak-Dhamara Port Private Rail Line under the control of Dhamara Port.
Efforts are being taken to curb the theft by East Coast Railway with the coordination of district & state Police to take necessary steps to put a check on coal theft.
Divisional Railway manager at Khurda Road along with Senior Divisional Security Commissioner have taken up the matter with Dhamra Port authorities and Bhadrak district Police.
The railway line from Dhamara Port to Ranital is owned and operated by Dhamara Port Corporation Limited and falls under the jurisdiction of Bhadrak District Administration.
Repeated public complaints and media alerts are being received regarding rampant theft of coal from coal loaded wagons during their run between Dhamara Port and Ranital Station particularly near Junction Cabin near Ranital.
Video footage of the same incidents are also getting viral in social media. A group of criminals are committing theft of coal by utilising local villagers who are engaged to unload coal from the wagons of the running trains, stated a release issued by EcoR here.
Since the railway line is not within the jurisdiction of ECoR, Railway Protection Force is not able to intervene directly.
ECoR RPF authorities at Khurda Road Division are pursuing the matter with District Police at Bhadrak but such incidents are still being reported rampantly.
Divisional Railway Manager, Khurda Road has once again written to State Government Police authorities to stop coal theft.