Bhubaneswar: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw started his 2-day Balasore visit by offering prayers at Khirachora Gopinath Temple at Remuna on Saturday morning.
He was accompanied by Balasore MP and ex-minister Pratap Sarangi.
Vaishnaw also held talks with management committee of the temple and announced financial aid of Rs 50 for a guesthouse.
Sources said that Vaishnaw will then participate in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra at Remuna Hanuma Kalyan Mandap.
He is scheduled to dedicate the Balasore-Gopinathpur passenger line in Balasore district and flag off Gopinathpur (Nilagiri)-Balasore new MEMU train service between 11.30 am and 2 pm. With the inauguration of the line, people of Nilagiri, the first princely state to merge with Odisha after the country’s independence, will be able to avail of passenger train services for the first time. Three pairs of MEMU trains will run on the route daily.
The railway line was opened in 1909 and a private company then used it for granite transportation from Nilagiri to Kolkata. Later, the line was left unused.
The Rail Minister will then visit Nilagiri Jagannath Temple and attend some programmes at Bada Sahi. He will then meet people over ‘Cha Khatti’ in the evening.
Vaishnaw is also scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of other railway projects at Betanoti in Mayurbhanj district. As a part of providing more passenger amenities and safety, a subway will be constructed at Betnoti station. Vaishnaw will lay foundation stone of this subway. It will ensure smooth entry and exit of passengers to the station. Local residents can commute through the subway without crossing the railway track, the ECoR said on Friday.
