There is a long standing demand to run an Intercity Express between Industrial hub of Rourkela and Bhadrak via Chakradharpur-Keonjhar-Jajpur Road and one express train between Rourkela and Baleswar via Chakradharpur-Keonjhar-Jajpur Road-Bhadrak.
In this regard, recently, Bhadrak MP Manjulata Mandal along with several other people's representatives met Union Minister for Railways and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. The Minister accepted the proposal.
They apprised the Minister that nearly three lakh people of the districts of Bhadrak, Baleswar, Keonjhar and Jajpur were residing at Rourkela for their livelihood.
Sisir Kumar Mishra of Bhadrak Station Development Committee said that the people from Rourkela who were travelling to their native places located in Bhadrak and Baleswar districts were facing a lot of difficulties due to poor communication facilities. Also communication by road is not so good and quite expensive and time consuming, Mishra said.
Only one train, Puri-Haridwar, Utkal Express is running through Baleswar, Bhadrak, Jajpur Road via Kharagpur where the time of the train is not suitable, he told.
The Union Railways Minister also considered construction of road overbridges (ROB) at Bhadrak, Kenduapada and Manjuri Road railway stations falling under the East Coast Railway.
Goyal also initiated prompt action for construction of ROBs at Markona and Bahanaga railway stations under the South East Railway.
Apart from that steps were also afoot for construction of a Rail Museum at Bhadrak Railway Station, a pilgrim shed at Bhadrak, a new train line ( Bhadrak-Chandbali-Akhandalamani-Jajpur) and plying of a passenger train from Bhadrak to Dhamra port, said sources.