Bhubaneswar: Even as the first trial run of Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express began on Friday, Odisha Commerce & Transport Minister Tukusi Sahu wrote to the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urging him to introduce the semi-high speed train on two more routes for the convenience of passengers from the state.
In her letter, Sahu wrote that Odisha had been demanding rapid expansion of the rail network to boost economic growth. Unfortunately, Vande Bharat Express trains have been introduced across the country to give faster connectivity, except in Odisha. “I would like to request you to introduce Vande Bharat Express trains through Odisha to meet the growing aspirations of people. I request you to introduce the Vande Bharat Express train between Puri and Howrah to offer faster travel options to passengers,” Sahu wrote on Thursday.
Stating that ‘very few faster trains’ connect Western Odisha with the state capital, Sahu wrote, “Vande Bharat Express train between Puri and Rourkela connecting Sambalpur will facilitate faster passenger movement from Western Odisha districts to state capital. It will boost intra-state economic activity and connect the airports in Jharsuguda, Rourkela, and Bhubaneswar.”
Since a large number of people from Odisha are staying in Hyderabad, she also requested the Railway Minister for another Vande Bharat Express train connecting Bhubaneswar with Hyderabad to facilitate faster movement of passengers between the two capital cities.
During his maiden visit to Odisha in August 2021 after becoming the Railway Minister, Vaishnaw had said Vande Bharat Express will be extended to Puri as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to connect every corner of the country by the semi-high-speed train service within 75 weeks under the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.
