A day after the detention of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express along with passengers by Maoist-backed tribals in West Bengal, Orissa government on Wednesday identified at least seven rail routes “vulnerable” to the attack, official sources said.
The routes identified as “prone” to Maoist attack are located mostly in Koraput, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts.
“The routes were identified on the basis of past Maoist attacks,” Special Secretary, Transport and Commerce Department, G C Ray told PTI adding special security measures were being made in the routes for safety of passengers.
The routes identified are: Rourkela-Bimalagah-Kiribur, Rourkela-Jariekela, Boinda-Jujumara, Tamka-Keonjhar, Rayagada-Koraput, Koraput-Gorapur and Rayagada-Jhimiripeta lines.
The district Superintendents of Police (SPs) have been directed to make adequate arrangement for passenger safety in consultation with the Railways, sources said.
Though 17 of the State’s 30 districts were affected by the Maoist menace, many of them were not connected by train, they said, adding Rayagada-Koraput, Rourkela-Bimlagarh-Kiribur routes are highly vulnerable.
“Trains from Orissa will be provided with security up to Kharagpur on Howrah-Chennai line,” said Railway SP R K Bal, adding the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express today left the station here amid security after thorough check-up.
