PM Modi to flag off Puri-Sonepur weekly express train tomorrow

For the first time after its formation, Sonepur district will get its first passenger train tomorrow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Puri-Sonepur passenger train from Sambalpur on Saturday.

However, the weekly train will make its debut run from Puri on February 8, informed the Railway officials.

PM Modi will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 68,000 crore during his visit to Odisha tomorrow (Saturday).

As per reports, the Prime Minister will leave New Delhi in the afternoon and arrive at Jharsuguda airport, and from there he will board a special Indian Air Force aircraft to Sambalpur.

Prime Minister Modi's visit will be under tight security in Sambalpur. 70 platoons police force will be deployed for the security. Around 300 officers including 7 commandants will be in charge of security. The SPs and 2 IGs of the four districts under the Northern Police Range will supervise the security arrangements.

Speaking about the security arrangements, OSAP Commandant Bhavani Kumar Seth said, “This is Prime Minister’s visit. So everything is being done as per the VVIP protocol. I have 600 trainee cadets who will be deployed here including 90 havaldars and nine officers.”

“We have prepared a traffic plan for Saturday. We will share that shortly. We are expecting a large number of people who will come here to listen to PM Modi. We have made elaborate security arrangements for that,” said Sambalpur SP Mukesh Bhamu.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation a 50 km long second track of Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega rail line Phase-1 built by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, with an investment of Rs 878 crore.

Prime Minister will dedicate to nation and lay the foundation stone of railway projects worth about Rs. 2146 crore. He will lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of Sambalpur Railway Station, whose architecture is inspired from the Sailashree Palace.

He will also dedicate the Sambalpur- Talcher Doubling Railway Line (168 Kms) and Jhartarbha to Sonepur New Railway line (21.7 Kms), enhancing the rail network capacity in the region. Prime Minister will also flag off Puri-Sonepur-Puri Weekly Express, which will improve connectivity for the rail passengers in the region.

Read | PM Modi to inaugurate, lay foundation stone of projects worth Rs 68000 crore in Odisha