Bhubaneswar: The Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off Sambalpur-Hatia-Gorakhpur Maurya Express from Sambalpur Railway Station on Friday.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Rengali MLA Nauri Nayak and others. On the inaugural run, the train runs as a special train from Sambalpur. However, the regular service in the extended portion for this train will be commenced from the early convenient date which will be notified, shortly. Without disturbing the scheduled timings and stoppages for this train between Hatia and Gorakhpur, this train has been extended to Sambalpur.
The extension of this train to Sambalpur is a game-changer for the people of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. The extension of this train from Sambalpur to Gorakhpur will serve as a lifeline for the residents of Western Odisha travelling for various other reasons like Business, Education and Medical Treatment. Apart from this, it will boost to tourism and cultural exchange having direct connectivity between Gorakhpur and Sambalpur.
The train will have stoppages at crucial stations, including Rengali, Jharsuguda and Rourkela between Sambalpur and Hatia. Earlier, Divisional Railway Manager Tushar Kant Pandey welcomed the Guests and dignitaries.