Jeypore: Bowing before the long standing demand of people of Koraput district and Jagadalpur in Chhattisgarh, the Indian Railways has proposed to introduce a new night express train between Jagadalpur and Visakhapatnam via Koraput.
With the plying of the new train, people of Jagadalpur and Koraput can have access to New Delhi-bound Samata Express and AP AC SF Express from Visakhapatnam, it was learnt.
According to reports, the new train would leave Jagadalpur at 7.30 pm and arrive at Jeypore by 8.35 pm. After a halt of five minutes, the train would reach Koraput at 9.55 pm, Araku at 11.40 pm, Kotabalasa at 2.20 am and finally arrive at Visakhapatnam at 3 am.
The train would leave Visakhapatnam every night at 10.15 pm, arrive at Araku at 1.30 am, Koraput at 3.15 am, Jeypore at 4.25 am and Jagadalpur at 6 am. The train would have 10 coaches including one ACCN, five GSCN, two GS and two sleeper coaches, Railways sources said.
The authorities concerned have asked Visakhapatnam DRM, senior DCM, senior DME, senior DEE (operations) to approve the proposal for the new train. The new express train would soon be in operation after getting the approval from these officials, the sources said.
The railways authorities had prepared a detailed report over the introduction of the new train about two months ago.
The report featured about the number of buses plying between Jagadalpur, Jeypore, Koraput towns and Visakhapatnam and the proposed timing of plying of the train to benefit the passengers.
According to the report, More than 30 passenger buses from Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi ply everyday to Visakhapatnam. Many rely on Visakhapatnam to avail flight service to go abroad. People of some districts of the neighbouring state are also dependent on Visakhapatnam, it stated.
Based on the detailed report, the railways has decided to introduce the new train in the interest of the people of Orissa and Chhattisgarh, it was learnt. PNN
