CM seeks introduction of New Rajdhani via Sambalpur

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday requested Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to review the decision to divert the existing Rajdhani Express via Sambalpur, once a week, from February 10 next year.

The Chief Minister said the state had been demanding for introduction of Rajdhani service from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi via Sambalpur and thanked Goyal for the immediate repose of the Railways in this regard. He, however, expressed displeasure over the decision of East Coast Railway (ECoR) to divert the existing Rajdhani Express and run the same via Sambalpur instead of introducing a new train.

“Such decision needs to be reviewed and a new Rajdhani Express may be given to Odisha, thereby restoring the frequency of the diverted train,” Naveen said in his letter.

The routes notified by ECoR have evoked strong resentment among residents of Sambalpur and other parts of the state as the stoppages have not been properly planned, he said.

The existing Rajdhani Express to New Delhi goes to Bhadrak and Balasore while the Rajdhani via Sambalpur will not be stopping at the district headquarter stations of Angul and Dhenkanal, he added.

Naveen urged the Union Minister to consider the genuine demands of the people of the region and introduce a new Rajdhani via Sambalpur with stoppages at Dhenkanal and Angul stations.