Bhubaneswar: A delegation of MPs from Odisha, led by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on Tuesday met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and submitted a memorandum seeking resolution of the long-pending land allotment issue of the Railway Employees Cultural Association (RECA) in Kharagpur.
The MPs urged the Railway Ministry to regularise approximately 5,915 square metres of railway land in the New Settlement area of Kharagpur under RECA. The issue has remained unresolved for over three decades. Earlier, on March 8, 1999, MPs from Odisha wrote to the prime minister about the matter, according to an official statement.
On March 15, 1999, late Union Minister Dr. Debendra Pradhan had also requested the then Minister of State for Railways Ram Naik to facilitate the allotment.
The memorandum stated that since 1989, RECA has played a key role in promoting cultural unity and social welfare among railway employees in Kharagpur, a multilingual railway town. The association has also contributed to the promotion of Odia culture through a Jagannath temple.
Internal railway reports indicate that the land has been in long-term use by the association, with infrastructure such as a school, temple, and other public utility facilities already in place. Officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager of South Eastern Railway, have earlier recommended regularisation of the land.
The MPs noted that the continued delay in allotment has affected the developmental activities of the association. They urged the railway minister to treat the matter as a special case and ensure early resolution in the interest of railway employees and the general public.
Pradhan said RECA has contributed beyond religious activities and has played a significant role in strengthening social harmony and national integration. He noted that a permanent solution would benefit railway employees from different regions residing in Kharagpur. The delegation submitted all relevant documents along with the memorandum.
