Bhubaneswar: The weekly Amrit Bharat Express connecting Brahmapur in Odisha with Udhna (Surat) in Gujarat was converted into a daily service on Monday, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi describing the move as a historic milestone in the state’s development and a major relief for thousands of passengers travelling between the two states.
Extending his congratulations to the people of Odisha, particularly residents of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, Balangir and Nuapada districts, the Chief Minister said the daily service would significantly improve connectivity with Surat, a city that shares deep emotional, cultural and economic ties with Odisha.
Majhi noted that lakhs of Odia workers and entrepreneurs are settled in Surat, contributing significantly to the textile and diamond industries. He said the earlier weekly service often caused inconvenience to passengers, and the Odisha Government had requested the Centre to make the train a daily service.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Chief Minister said the Centre had responded positively to the state’s request by introducing the daily service.
He said the indigenously developed Amrit Bharat Express, equipped with modern technology, would provide safe, affordable and faster travel for poor and middle-class passengers.
Highlighting the state’s infrastructure and industrial growth, Majhi said work has commenced on 12 industrial projects worth ₹3.11 lakh crore over the past two years, which are expected to generate employment for around 2.5 lakh youths. He also announced that alongside the expansion of Gopalpur Port, a major port would be developed at Bahuda. The Chief Minister further reiterated plans to develop Brahmapur as a “Greater Brahmapur City” and construct a six-lane road connecting Brahmapur with Jeypore.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the demand for a regular train service between Brahmapur and Surat had been raised during a meeting in Surat, and that promise has now been fulfilled with the commencement of daily operations.
Vaishnaw also announced that ₹300 crore would be invested to redevelop Brahmapur Railway Station into a world-class facility, adding that work on the project would begin soon.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Brahmapur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi, Asika MP Anita Subhadarshini, East Coast Railway General Manager Parameshwar Phunkwal, legislators from Ganjam district, district administration officials and senior railway authorities.
