A high-level delegation of Odisha Members of Parliament (MPs), led by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today and submitted a detailed memorandum demanding the regularisation of railway land in Kharagpur for the Railway Employees Cultural Association (RECA).
The delegation has urged the Railway Ministry to formally allot approximately 5,915 square metres of railway land located in the New Settlement area of Kharagpur in favour of RECA. The matter has remained unresolved for more than three decades despite repeated representations.
Since its inception in 1989, RECA has played a vital role in fostering cultural unity, social welfare, and the promotion of Odia culture among railway employees in the multilingual town of Kharagpur — most notably through the Sri Jagannath Temple established on the premises. The association runs a school and other community infrastructure that serves railway staff from various states.
Historical records show that in March 1999, the then Odisha MPs had written to the Prime Minister on this issue. Dharmendra Pradhan’s late father, former Union Minister Dr Debendra Pradhan, had also personally requested the then Railway Minister Ram Naik on March 15, 1999, for the allotment of the land.
Internal Railway Department reports confirm that RECA has been using the land for decades. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM/KGP) and other senior officials have already recommended its regularisation. Yet, the prolonged delay continues to hamper the association’s developmental activities.
The Odisha MPs have described the case as a “special matter” and have sought the Railway Minister’s personal intervention for an early and permanent resolution so that railway employees and the local community can fully benefit.
Speaking after the meeting, Dharmendra Pradhan said, “RECA is not limited to religious activities alone; it has been a strong force for national integration and social harmony. A permanent solution to this long-pending issue will greatly benefit railway employees from different states living in Kharagpur.”
The memorandum submitted by the delegation includes all relevant historical documents and official correspondence to strengthen the case.
