Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday flagged off first train on the Khordha-Balangir line at a special function at Begunia, 65 km from here. The train will run on the first 32-km stretch of the 289-km broad gauge line till Khordha.
Prabhu said, “The line will link Khordha with Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir districts. A number of emerging urban areas and rural pockets in these districts will be connected by the railway network. It is expected not only to improve communication but also to spur development of the State.”
The Union Minister added that the next phase would comprise completion of the line till Raj Sunakhala measuring a total of 46 km, which is expected to be completed by December. The 66-km stretch till Nayagarh is likely to be completed by the end of 2015-16 financial year.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, local MP Prasanna Patsani, Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra and State law Minister Arun Sahu, among others, were present on the occasion.