Bhubaneswar: In what could be a boon for train travellers, the East Coast Railway today announced that the Bhubaneswar New station would be made functional before the Rath Yatra. It is scheduled to be inaugurated on July 7.
Close to Patia Halt station, the new station which is located between Barang and Mancheswar stations, aims to ease the rush at the Bhubaneswar station and also help commuters facing difficulties due to increasing road traffic.
With facilities similar to that of Bhubaneswar station, initially only three passenger trains will ply from this new station that has six platforms. Later, the services would be augmented at the station and Express trains too will have stoppages at the new station, officials said.
Speaking to media, ECoR senior PRO Nirakar Das informed, “Six platforms have been opened. The station has all basic amenities and facilities for the passengers. The new station has been constructed at a cost of Rs 28 crore and everything is in place for it to get operational.”
Passengers too breathed a sigh of relief after the announcement. “Travelling from one half of the capital city to the other is so difficult nowadays. Our expense will be reduced and we can avoid road traffic. Half of the people can come to the new station and half of them can go to old one. It's a good thing,” expressed Vaishnav Ray, a student.
Also Read: Railway Announces 184 Special Trains To Puri For Rath Yatra
“Like New Delhi, Bhubaneswar should also have 3-4 stations. If it’s Capital city, it should have this much facility for the commuters (Rajdhani Hai Toh Itni Suvidhayein Honi Chahiye). Half of the problems will reduce,” said a tourist, Girish Srivastav.
The construction of the Bhubaneswar New Railway station had started in 2012. Though the railway authorities had set a target to complete the construction work by May 2015, it was delayed by more than three years.