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Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Rlys urged to introduce daytime train service between Koraput & capital city
Koraput: Political leaders across party lines and social activists in the district have urged the Indian Railways to introduce a daytime train service between Koraput and Bhubaneswar. On Friday, Koraput's BJP MLA Raghuram Machha met railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum, seeking the introduction of a train service that passes via Sambalpur and Angul. At present, Hirakhand Express is the only train operating on the route and it connects Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh to Bhubaneswar via Rayagada and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh. However, passengers frequently complain of overcrowding and limited accommodation on the train. Additionally, the train runs at night. "A daytime train service on the proposed route would not only benefit passengers in Koraput, but also cater to neighbouring regions and states," Machha said. He added that the railway minister has assured him of seriously considering the demand. "Hundreds of passengers from the district travel to Bhubaneswar every day for medical, educational and administrative purposes. The existing train is insufficient to accommodate the growing demand," Jeypore Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said. He added that a new route via Sambalpur and Angul would not only reduce congestion on Hirakhand Express but also improve east-west rail connectivity across Odisha. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was Everyone's Dream Girl In 90's, This Is Her Now The Latest Article Undo "Many residents of western Odisha live and work in Koraput. On several occasions, this demand has been raised as a train via Sambalpur would make travel far more convenient for them," Bahinipati further said. Supporting the demand, senior BJD leader and former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda highlighted the economic burden faced by passengers in the absence of adequate train services. "With limited options, especially for the tribal population, people are forced to rely on buses, which cost more than double the train fare," Nanda said. Echoing similar concerns, Madan Mohan Nayak of Utkal Sammilani's Koraput unit said that a train service connecting Koraput to Bhubaneswar via Angul was introduced during the pandemic. "That temporary service proved extremely beneficial for passengers. The railways should consider reviving it in response to the people's consistent demands," Nayak added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- The Hindu
Train services on Koraput-Kirandul line back on track
Train services on the Koraput–Kirandul line under Waltair Division will operate as per schedule, according to Mr K. Saandeep, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager. The following trains will run normally: Train no. 18515 Visakhapatnam - Kirandul Night Express with effect from July 30, 18516 Kirandul - Visakhapatnam Night Express, leaving from Kirandul with effect from July 31, train no. 58501 Visakhapatnam - Kirandul Passenger, leaving from Visakhapatnam with effect from July 31, train no. 58502 Kirandul - Visakhapatnam Passenger, leaving from Kirandul will run normally with effect from August 1. Similarly, 18005 Howrah-Jagdalpur Samaleswari Express, leaving from Howrah will run normally with effect from July 30, 18006 Jagdalpur-Howrah Samaleswari Express, leaving from Jagdalpur will run normally with effect from August 1, 18107 Rourkela – Jagdalpur Intercity Express, leaving Rourkela will run normally with effect from July 30, 18108 Jagdalpur-Rourkela Intercity Express, leaving from Jagdalpur will run normally with effect from July 31, 18447 Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express, leaving from Bhubaneswar will run normally with effect from July 30, 18448 Jagdalpur - Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express, leaving from Jagdalpur will run normally with effect from July 31, 08502 Kirandul-Jeypore Passenger Special, leaving from Kirandul on July 31 will run up to Visakhapatnam on the same timing and train no. 58502 passenger will remain cancelled on July 31.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- The Hindu
10 trains to short-terminate at Koraput
As many as 10 trains will short terminate or short originate at Koraput over the course of the next few days, according to an official release. They are train numbers: 18515 Visakhapatnam - Kirandul Night Express leaving from Visakhapatnam on July 10 and 18516 Kirandul - Visakhapatnam Night Express leaving from Kirandul on July 11 will start from Koraput instead of Kirandul, train no. 58501 Visakhapatnam -Kirandul Passenger leaving from Visakhapatnam on July 10 at Koraput and 58502 Kirandul - Visakhapatnam Passenger will start from Koraput on July 10, instead of Kirandul Train no. 18005 Howrah-Jagdalpur Samaleswari Express, leaving Howrah from July 8 to 10 will be short terminated at Koraput and 18006 Jagdalpur-Howrah Samaleswari Express, will leave from Koraput from July 10 to 12, instead Jagdalpur. Train no. 18107 Rourkela – Jagdalpur Intercity Express, leaving Rourkela from July 8 to 10 will be short terminated at Koraput and 18108 Jagdalpur-Rourkela Intercity Express will leave from Koraput from July 9 to 11, instead of Jagdalpur Train no. 18447 Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express, leaving from Bhubaneswar from July 8 to 10 will be short terminated at Koraput and 18448 Jagdalpur - Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express, will leave from Koraput on July 9 and 10, instead of Koraput.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Landslides, a big threat to train travel in Koraput
1 2 3 Koraput: Stretching 173 km across tribal heartlands and dense forested ridges, the Koraput-Rayagada railway line is one of India's most picturesque routes. But monsoon is a nightmare on this route. "The soil here becomes loose and unpredictable. Landslides are not just possible, they are expected," remarked a senior official at Koraput railway station. This fear became a reality on Wednesday. Continuous downpour triggered a landslide between Malliguda and Jarati stations, halting train operations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Several trains were either cancelled or short-terminated as safety became the top priority. Restoration efforts which were immediately started on Wednesday resumed early Thursday under the close watch of Amitabh Singhal, divisional railway manager (DRM), Rayagada. Over 300 personnel and 13 heavy-duty excavators were pressed into service to clear massive mounds of mud, boulders, and debris. "By 11 am on Thursday, we had cleared about 50% of the debris. If the weather holds, we should be able to resume services soon," said another official on site. While safety reinforcements like steel nets and sandbag barricades have been installed over the years, officials concede that the terrains unpredictability defies even the best of preparations. "Crores have been spent in past few years for slope protection. But this route is alive as it shifts, breathes, and tests us every single season," the official said. For frequent travellers like Ajit Patra from Koraput, the experience is a mix of awe and anxiety. "I travel on this route often, especially on the Hirakhand Express. During monsoon, every tunnel we pass and every bend we take feels like a silent prayer. It's breathtaking but you never stop hoping for a safe passage," he said. Koraput: Stretching 173 km across tribal heartlands and dense forested ridges, the Koraput-Rayagada railway line is one of India's most picturesque routes. But monsoon is a nightmare on this route. "The soil here becomes loose and unpredictable. Landslides are not just possible, they are expected," remarked a senior official at Koraput railway station. This fear became a reality on Wednesday. Continuous downpour triggered a landslide between Malliguda and Jarati stations, halting train operations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Several trains were either cancelled or short-terminated as safety became the top priority. Restoration efforts which were immediately started on Wednesday resumed early Thursday under the close watch of Amitabh Singhal, divisional railway manager (DRM), Rayagada. Over 300 personnel and 13 heavy-duty excavators were pressed into service to clear massive mounds of mud, boulders, and debris. "By 11 am on Thursday, we had cleared about 50% of the debris. If the weather holds, we should be able to resume services soon," said another official on site. While safety reinforcements like steel nets and sandbag barricades have been installed over the years, officials concede that the terrains unpredictability defies even the best of preparations. "Crores have been spent in past few years for slope protection. But this route is alive as it shifts, breathes, and tests us every single season," the official said. For frequent travellers like Ajit Patra from Koraput, the experience is a mix of awe and anxiety. "I travel on this route often, especially on the Hirakhand Express. During monsoon, every tunnel we pass and every bend we take feels like a silent prayer. It's breathtaking but you never stop hoping for a safe passage," he said.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Extend Vande Bharat to Koraput via Araku: Jeypore MLA
1 2 Koraput: In a renewed push for improved rail connectivity in the tribal-dominated Koraput district, Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati has appealed to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to extend the Vande Bharat Express — currently running between Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam — to Koraput via two separate memoranda recently submitted to Majhi and Vaishnaw, the senior Congress legislator proposed extending the train's route by an additional 215 km to reach Koraput. The route, passing through the scenic Araku Valley, would span a total of 669 km, well within the operational threshold of Vande Bharat trains, which typically cover up to 800 the Vande Bharat covers 444 km between Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam in about five hours. With the proposed extension, the full journey could be completed in around nine hours, Bahinipati the lack of high-speed connectivity in Koraput region, Bahinipati emphasised that only one train, the Hirakhand Express, currently connects Koraput with Bhubaneswar. "This extension would not only reduce the heavy passenger load on the Hirakhand Express but also boost the socio-economic development of backward blocks such as Nandapur and Lamtaput, and bordering districts like Nabarangpur and Malkangiri," said Bahinipati. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
