Commuters may face problems in reaching Bhubaneswar New Railway Station, where 3 express trains are set to originate & terminate

Starting May 11, three major express trains—the Mumbai-bound Konark Express, Secunderabad-linked Visakha Express, and Visakhapatnam Inter City Express—will originate and terminate at Bhubaneswar New Railway Station (BBSN) instead of the city’s main hub. 

While the move aims to decongest the railways, passengers are likely to grapple with poor road connectivity and chaotic traffic near BBSN.

Commuting Challenges

BBSN, located 2 km from Nandankanan Zoological Park, requires commuters to navigate a narrow road and battle traffic. To reach the station, one must reach Nandankanan Square, take a left turn onto Pada Sahi Road and drive 1.8 km to the station. However, accessibility issues persist:

Currently, there is no wide road facility linking BBSN to the main six-lane road stretch passing through Cuttack to Bhubaneswar via Nandankanan. Further, to reach the station, commuters may have to brave heavy traffic in front of the zoo.

To complicate matters, auto-rickshaws and cars are often parked along the Pada Sahi road, narrowing the stretch further. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to address these issues, including the installation of a larger, more prominent sign indicating the road leading to the station.

ALSO READ: 3 major Express trains to originate from Bhubaneswar New Railway Station from May 11; check details

Revised Operations of trains from BBSN:

Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Konark Express (11019/11020): Terminates at BBSN by 12:20 AM from May 11; departs for Mumbai at 2:40 PM from May 12.

Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Visakha Express (17016/17015): Ends at BBSN by 4:25 PM from May 11; leaves for Secunderabad at 8:00 AM from May 12.

Visakhapatnam-Bhubaneswar Inter City Express (22820/22819): Arrives at BBSN by 12:35 AM from May 12; departs for Visakhapatnam at 7:15 AM.

Hope Ahead

However, with plans afoot for a massive redevelopment of the Bhubaneswar New Railway Station, these concerns are likely to be addressed soon. Despite initial hurdles, once operational and under increasing passenger traffic, commuting concerns to BBSN should be resolved soon.

Under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, upgrades like expanded roads, better signage, and parking facilities are planned. Until then, passengers are advised to factor in extra travel time, especially during peak hours near Nandankanan.