Bhubaneswar, March 2 (IANS): The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a demonstration at the East Coast Railway (ECoR) headquarters, here on Saturday, to protest against its (ECoR) bifurcation.

The Railway Minister on February 27 announced bifurcation of the ECoR to create SCoR, a new zone, with headquarters at Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam.

"It's a conspiracy against Odisha. The Centre has divided the ECoR by keeping an eye on the upcoming elections at the cost of development of the state and railways. The bifurcation would harm the interests of Odisha," said senior BJD leader Sanjay Dasburma.

He said the people will not forgive the Centre for the division to satisfy people of Andhra Pradesh and make political gains.

Railway networks in the state would be hampered as creation of SCoR will transfer assets to the neighbouring state, he said.

Dasburma said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik opposed the move as it would harm Odisha's interests.

"Odisha has been demanding unification of railways within the state under ECoR by creating three more railway divisions with headquarters in Rourkela, Jajpur-Keonjhar road and Rayagada," said the BJD leader.