Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu reiterating the demand for introduction of a new train to Mumbai to be named as ‘Buxi Jagabandhu Express’.
“One new daily AC Express train may be put in operation between Mumbai and Puri/Khurda Road via Sambalpur and the frequency of the existing weekly trains may be increased so as to cover all days of the week in order to facilitate smooth, comfortable and hassle-free journey of the passengers,” Patnaik wrote in the letter on Sunday.
Scores of people from Odisha are working in different sectors in Mumbai and they heavily depend on the railways for their journey. Similarly, a large number of visitors from Maharashtra visit Odisha regularly. Due to paucity of trains between the two States, the citizens at large face a lot of hardship. Hence, there is need for improving the train connectivity between the two States to ameliorate the hardship and inconvenience being faced by the public, the Chief Minister added.
Patnaik had earlier in March this year shot off a letter to Prabhu urging for introduction of a Humsafar-type AC Express train from Khurda Road to Mumbai to be named as ‘Buxi Jagabandhu Express’ as a fitting tribute to the iconic leader who had led the historic Paika Rebellion in 1817.
Odisha is famous as epicentre of cultural heritage with Puri being one of the celebrated pilgrimage centres while Mumbai is the commercial capital of the country. There are enough reasons for both the places to connect with each other socially, economically and spiritually, Patnaik had added.