Ayodhya's Rail Bypass Controversy: A Village Stands Firm

The Gaddopur Majhwa village, located in the outskirts of Ayodhya, is at the center of a heated protest against a proposed rail bypass project. Comprising over 50 families of retired and active soldiers, the village stands united against the construction that threatens to displace thousands of residents.

This proposal involves a new bypass railway line aimed at connecting the Allahabad-Ayodhya and Lucknow-Ayodhya routes, primarily serving freight trains to a goods depot. However, the project has triggered outrage among the locals, who have launched demonstrations and made appeals to regulatory bodies.

Led by BJP corporator Ram Teerath, villagers insist that the project will engulf their community, affecting homes and farmland. Teerath criticized the railway ministry for selecting the shortest route for budgetary reasons, urging instead for a revised path to prevent mass displacement. Despite submitting formal requests to political leaders, the residents' pleas have yet to yield results.

(With inputs from agencies.)