Banaras-Visakhapatnam Express via Sambalpur to run from Nov 22

Priya Ranjan Swain Published On : Nov 18, 2023 at 7:12 PM

Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the extension of Banaras-Sambalpur-Banaras bi-weekly Express up to Visakhapatnam on November 20.

The two Union Ministers will flag off the train at Sambalpur Railway Station in the afternoon of November 20, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Railways today.

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Sambalpur MP Nitesh Gangadev and Sambalpur MLA and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Jayanarayan Mishra will also participate in the programme.

MPs Suresh Pujari, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Niranjan Bishi, Basanta Kumar Panda and Sujeet Kumar will grace the function through videoconference from Bargarh, Balangir and Kesinga railway stations.

On the inaugural day, the train will be flagged off from Sambalpur towards Visakhapatnam as a special train. However, the regular service of the extended portion of the train will commence from Visakhapatnam on November 22 and from Banaras on November 23, Railways sources said.

Extension of the Banaras-Sambalpur Express up to Visakhapatnam is a game-changer for the people of Southern and Western Odisha.

However, the scheduled timings and stoppages for the train between Sambalpur and Banaras will not be disturbed due to the extension, sources added.