The creation of separate statehood Telangana would hamper the interest of Odisha in future if the demand by Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo for shifting the East Coast Railway (ECoR) headquarters from Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam would be given a nod by A K Antony committee.

While expressing his concern over the situation arising out of the formation of Telangana state from the existing Andhra Pradesh, Mr Deo demanded the Antony committee, set up by the Centre to recommend for shifting of ECoR to Vizag and South Eastern Railway (SER) headquarters from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar. As he represents Araku (ST) constituency of Andhra Pradesh, he wanted to benefit Andhra Pradesh after the separate statehood. Perhaps the Congress leader wants to gain some political mileage giving such suggestion after his party approved the division of the state.

Kolkata has two railway headquarters. The ECoR was created in 2003 and has three divisions – Khordha, Sambalpur, Visakhapatnam (Vizag). However, the Union minister’s suggestion was not accepted by Congress and other political parties. Even senior Congress leader K.C.Lenka, who is also a former Railway Minister described Mr. Deo’s statement ‘impractical’. The move would be a ‘Congress Conspiracy’ if it takes place.