ACTION TO REMOVE ENCROACHMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE AT KOELWAR  IN BHOJPUR

ACTION TO REMOVE ENCROACHMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE AT KOELWAR  IN BHOJPUR

1-JULY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------A situation of conflict between development and displacement has once again arisen at Koilwar station located in Bhojpur district of Bihar. The process of building a new railway bridge over the Son River on the Howrah-Delhi main railway line under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) - Danapur Railway Division has started. This new bridge will be built parallel to the Abdul Bari rail bridge, which was built in 1862 during the British rule.

The railway administration has identified encroachment on 234 feet of land in the north direction of Koilwar station and 237 feet of land in the south direction. The railway has given time till 3 July 2025 to remove encroachment from these areas. Public notices in this regard have been pasted in the station premises and surrounding settlements.

It has also been clearly stated in the notice that if the people do not remove their constructions themselves within the stipulated time limit, then it will be removed forcibly by the railway administration.

The affected citizens of Koilwar say that they were not informed in advance. The sudden posting of the notice has created an atmosphere of chaos. Many people have houses, shops, temples and structures built on this land which are years old.

"We have been living here for many decades, neither the railways ever stopped us nor gave us any notice. Now suddenly the order to remove us has been given. Where should we go?"

Railway officials say that the current Abdul Bari rail bridge is now in a dilapidated condition and it has become necessary to build a new bridge parallel to it for security reasons.

"This development project is extremely necessary for uninterrupted rail operations on the Son River. Removing encroachment is not a compulsion, but the first requirement of the construction work."

This matter is now becoming a challenge for the local administration and public representatives. On one hand the railways argue that this work is in public interest, on the other hand the demand for rehabilitation and compensation of the displaced people is also gaining momentum.

Social workers and local public representatives have raised the demand that before removing the encroachment, the affected families should be given alternative place and proper compensation, so that along with development, a human approach is also maintained.

Construction of a new railway bridge in Koilwar is an important step towards the development of Bihar, but along with this the administration will also have to ensure that no injustice is done to any citizen. This project can be successful and acceptable only by maintaining a balance between development and displacement.

The state government, Railway Ministry and the district administration are appealed to look at this issue sensitively and announce a rehabilitation plan for the affected people as soon as possible.