Bhubaneswar: Considering the longstanding demand of South Odisha’s people, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requested Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to introduce two daily trains between Berhampur and Surat, on Monday.
In a letter, he mentioned about the longstanding and genuine demand of Odia people residing in the state of Gujarat, for daily direct trains between Surat and Berhampur.
“A very large population of Odias are engaged in power loom, dyeing and printing, diamond cutting and other spheres of trades and commerce in the Surat economic cluster, and need daily train service for commuting between their place of work and place of origin,” Naveen wrote.
The Chief Minister further said that there is not a single direct train connecting (originating/terminating) Berhampur with Surat, although more than seven lakh people of South Odisha, specially from Ganjam district, are residing there and have various travelling needs.”
“At present, only 12843/12844 (Puri-Ahmedabad Express running four days a week), 18401/18402 Puri-Okha Express (once a week) and 22974/22975 Puri-Gandhidham (once a week) are providing connectivity between these two places. But as these group of trains are originating and terminating at further destinations, availability of accommodation at Surat and Berhampur is highly inadequate,” he added.
The Chief Minister had also sought introduction of direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Surat last Friday.
In a letter to Union Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu, he said lakhs of Odia are engaged in the textile industry there. However, there is no direct air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Surat.
During urgency, the Odia families residing in Surat face difficulties reaching Odisha in time, he said.
The Chief Minister said that direct flight between the two cities will also boost tourism in these states. “Therefore, I request you to impress upon Air India and private airlines to introduce direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Surat at the earliest,” he added.
