Odisha CM, railway minister jointly flag off Puri–Koraput, Brahmapur–Udhna express trains

Bhubaneswar, Jul 6 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday jointly flagged off a new express train service between Puri and Koraput and the daily Brahmapur–Udhna (Surat) Amrit Bharat Express. The trains were flagged off from Puri and Berhampur stations during special events in the presence of state Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, MPs, MLAs and senior railway officials. Puri–Koraput express special was inaugurated from Puri railway station while the Brahmapur–Udhna (Surat) special was inaugurated from Brahmapur railway station, marking the commencement of its daily operation in place of the existing tri-weekly service. Speaking at the event in Puri, Majhi described the launch of the train service as a historic moment for the state. "Today is a historic day for Puri and all of Odisha as a new train service has started from Srikhetra Puri to Sabar Srikhetra Koraput," he said, thanking Vaishnaw for introducing the service. The chief minister said Puri railway station was being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 184 crore to provide a better experience to pilgrims visiting the temple town from across the country. Majhi, who hails from Keonjhar district, also requested Vaishnaw to introduce a similar train service from north Odisha. Responding immediately, the Railway minister announced that a new train connecting north Odisha with Puri would be introduced soon. Addressing the gathering, Vaishnaw said there had been a long-standing demand for a daytime train connecting coastal Odisha with the western and southern parts of the state. "Only the Hirakhand Express runs from Bhubaneswar to Koraput, and that too at night. Therefore, there was a demand for a daytime train service," he said. "Odisha Chief Minister had also written a letter to me in this regard. On the instruction of Lord Jagannath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the train service from Puri to Koraput covering several districts of coastal, western and southern Odisha," Vaishnaw said. The minister said the BJP had promised investments of Rs 1 lakh crore in Odisha's railway sector over five years, and around Rs 97,000 crore had already been invested in the state during the past two years. The target will be fulfilled next year," he said. Drawing a comparison with the Golden Quadrilateral highway project undertaken during the tenure of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Vaishnaw said the Modi government was constructing four-lane railway corridors connecting New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. He said Puri railway station was being upgraded into a world-class facility, while around 50 railway stations across Odisha were being redeveloped. Speaking at the inaugural of the Brahmapur–Udhna express train, Vaishnaw said the Brahmapur railway station will be redeveloped into a world-class station at a cost of Rs 300 crore. A new chapter has been added to the developmental journey of Odisha with the commencement of daily train service from the Silk City to Surat, CM Majhi said. It will benefit the people of south Odisha and especially Ganjam district, he added. The two leaders also reviewed Indian Railways' preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri to ensure safe, seamless and comfortable travel for the lakhs of devotees expected during the festival. This year, the railways have planned to run more than 300 specials for Rath Yatra, a holding area for more than 30,000 devotees, food arrangements, and additional ticket counters are being arranged in the Puri area. They also inspected passenger facilities and amenities, reviewed measures taken to enhance passenger convenience, strengthen safety arrangements and ensure efficient railway operations during the Rath Yatra. Introduction of the Puri–Koraput Express fulfils the long-standing aspiration of people by providing direct rail connectivity between the holy city of Puri and the tribal heartland of Koraput. The regular schedule of the Puri-Koraput Express will be notified separately, officials said. The train will greatly benefit pilgrims, tourists, students, patients, traders and locals by improving access to religious destinations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and commercial centres across the state, they said. The train will operate via Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Angul, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Kakiriguma and Damanjodi, thereby strengthening rail connectivity between coastal, western and southern Odisha, the official said. Officials said that the train will run from Puri on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and from Koraput on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, offering convenient travel options to passengers across the region. The Brahmapur–Udhna (Surat) Amrit Bharat Express, connecting Odisha with Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, has become an important rail link for workers, students, traders and passengers. The special train's conversion into a daily service will significantly improve travel flexibility, strengthen connectivity with major industrial and commercial centres and support trade, employment and economic activities, they stated. PTI BBM MNB BBM RG