Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) on Monday wrote to the railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, demanding a heritage tag for Paralakhemundi station, which is one of the oldest stations in the state. The trust urged him not to demolish the old station building while constructing a new one.
The Maharajas of Paralakhemundi had started the Parlakimedi Light Railway (PLR) in the year 1899-1900. The then Maharaja of Paralakhemundi had opened the 39km line connecting his capital Paralakhemundi with Naupada on April 1, 1900. Amiya Bhushan Tripathy, convenor of INTACH (Odisha unit), stated in the letter that the old building of the station master should be converted into a museum of the PLR. A proper art and photograph gallery should also be set up.
Many of the stations of the PLR, including the bridges, culverts and other facilities, should be preserved as heritage structures. The goods shed at Paralakhemundi station is a unique heritage structure which needs preservation. A statue of Maharaja should be put up in front of the new station building, said Tripathy.
He urged the railway minister to ensure that the existing station is not demolished or restructured in any way. “It is a piece of history which should be properly preserved,” he added.
The trust suggested the railways bring heritage locomotives of the PLR back and install them properly at the heritage railway station. The wooden bodied Royal Carriage built in 1899 used by the royalties of Paralakhemundi should be brought back from Nagpur for display at the station.
Many other artifacts including signalling equipment, electrical equipment, scales, uniforms, insignias, German silver cutlery and Royal embellishments should be kept at the Paralakhemundi station by creating a museum, said Tripathy.
The trust said the Railways should consider running a new train from Baripada to Paralakhemundi. This will be a fitting tribute to two pioneers of the Railways in Odisha, Maharaja Goura Chandra Gajapati and Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Hemanta Pradhan writes for the Times of India on education, hospi...
Read MoreHemanta Pradhan writes for the Times of India on education, hospital issues, transport, agriculture & tribal affairs. He has been working as a journalist since 2011. He has a PG degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Berhampur University. He has won Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity.
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