Rail Minister Approves Extension Of Varanasi-Sambalpur Express Up To Visakhapatnam

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the extension of Varanasi-Sambalpur Express up to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to enhance train services in western and southern Odisha.

The Railway Minister has approved the extension of Varanasi-Sambalpur Express up to Visakhapatnam via Titlagarh and Rayagada, said a release issued by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) today. The people of southern Odisha had raised the issue of inadequate train services in the region before the Railway Minister during his Jan-Ashirvaad Yatra, sources said.

The Railway Minister had assured the people of the southern Odisha to look into their demand. The extension of Varanasi-Sambalpur Express up to Visakhapatnam has the potential to become the lifeline of the people of western and southern Odisha, said the ECoR.

The extension of bi-weekly Varanasi-Sambalpur-Varanasi Express (18312/11) would also benefit the people of North Andhra Region and interior districts of Chhattisgarh, added the ECoR.

“The intiative will have a ripple effect on intermediate connectivity facilitating easier travel to crucial junctions including Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Hatia, Ranchi, Rourkela, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur. The entire region is set to experience a surge in economic activity and connectivity like never before,” said the ECoR.