Baragada MP Pradeep Purohit recently met with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to present a memorandum advocating for significant railway advancements in the Baragada and Jharsuguda districts. The memorandum calls for expedited timelines for ongoing infrastructure projects, enhanced passenger facilities, and the launch of new train services.
Purohit emphasized the need for the Railway Ministry to ensure the timely operation of the often-delayed Ispat Express, while also highlighting the importance of better rail connectivity and upgraded amenities at Brajarajnagar, which serves as a vital industrial center in Western Odisha.
The MP has requested that several long-distance trains include additional stops at Brajarajnagar, Jharsuguda, Barpali, and Attabira stations, alongside the reinstitution of previously removed halts. He proposed new train services, including the Bilaspur-Puri Express, the Titlagarh/Balangir-Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat Express, the Jharsuguda-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express, and a train connecting Baragada/Balangir to Bhubaneswar. Furthermore, Purohit called for extending the Gondwana Express to Sambalpur, the Jan Shatabdi Express to either Jharsuguda or Raurkela, and converting the Hirakud Express into a daily service.
Additionally, Purohit advocated for upgrades to passenger facilities at the Brajarajnagar railway station, requesting improvements such as better toilets, digital display boards, a coach guidance system, public announcement systems, and enhanced lighting. He also urged the prompt completion of development projects at Belpahar railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The MP stressed the importance of fast-tracking the long-delayed Baragada-Nuapada railway project, deeming it essential for the connectivity and economic development of western Odisha. He asked the Railway Minister to expedite these proposals to meet the increasing transportation demands and development objectives of the region.
