ECoR extends Sambalpur-Banaswadi  weekly spl train up to sept-2019  

Surjit Kumar Dhal Sambalpur, June 30: East Coast Railway has decided  to extend running of 08301/08302 Sambalpur -Banaswadi-Sambalpur  weekly Special train.

According to an East Coast Railway release, 08301 Sambalpur- Banaswadi weekly special train will run from July 3 to Sept 25 on every Wednesday day  at 9.30hrs from Sambalpur.

Similarly 08302  Banaswadi-Sambalpur  weekly Special train will run from July 4 to September 26 on every Thurseday  at 23.30hrs from Banaswadi, it said.

The stoppages  of the train  at Bargarh , Bolangir, Titilagarh and Kesinga in Sambalpur division.

The composition  will be 18 coaches  including one 2nd AC, three 3rd AC, ten Sleeper class, two  general class  and two SLR coaches.

Sr citizens appeal PM, FM for hike in fixed deposit interest rate

SAMBALPUR, June 30 – Senior citizens of the region, especially those who retired from private sectors, have appealed the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to enhance the interest rate on fix deposits and also the maximum limit so that they can lead a post retirement life without much hardship.

“Those who have retired from government services are getting lucrative pension which is even more than the salary of a fresher and much higher than the salary of employees working in private sectors. But pension is a word in the dictionary for those who have retired from private services and are solely depending on the fix deposit interest which is decreasing day by day,” says Bijay Kumar Mohanty, retired employee from Hindalco (erstwhile Indalco) Hirakud.

Mohanty and many others in their letter to the PM and FM have requested to enhance the rate of interest or bring it back to the previous rate so that they can lead a life without depending on other sources.

He said senior citizens of the country avail two kinds of fix deposits – normal fix deposits in banks and LIC; and Senior Citizen Saving Scheme. At the same time a ceiling has been fixed for Rs. 15 lakh only for each. But unfortunately the rate of interest has been reduced to 8.7 percent per annum from 9.4 percent.

The result being one can get maximum income of Rs. 10, 000 (approximately) per month from 15 lakh deposit that is quite insufficient to manage a family, he said.

“Hence, we have requested the above two dignitaries to enhance the interest rate to its old rate so that the senior citizens could get some extra monthly income and lead a life with dignity,” Mohanty said.