Littering on Bhubaneswar New Railway Station platform sparks resentment

Littering on Platform No. 6 of Bhubaneswar New Railway Station (BBSN) triggered public outrage on Friday, after commuters spotted the waste scattered across the public space.

Also Read: Full operations of three express trains begin at Bhubaneswar New Railway Station; transformation on the cards

From leftover food packets to assorted garbage, the platform was littered end to end.

Allegedly, waste was dumped on Platform No. 6 after the Visakha Express—arriving from Hyderabad last evening—was cleaned post-arrival. Passengers claimed that instead of proper disposal, cleaning staff left the collected garbage right on the platform.

Despite the visible mess, no reaction or official statement has been received from the Station Master or the Railway authorities regarding the unpleasant incident.

Lack of alleged accountability has further intensified concerns over hygiene and platform maintenance at one of the city’s key railway stations.

Worth mentioning, starting May 12 this year, the Bhubaneswar New Railway Station has become a full-time hub for three major express trains, marking a pivotal shift in Odisha’s rail infrastructure.

East Coast Railway (ECoR) authorities had confirmed that Konark Express (Mumbai route), Visakha Express (Secunderabad route), and Visakhapatnam Intercity Express will originate and terminate at BBSN.
This move aimed to decongest Bhubaneswar’s main station, streamline travel for North Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Barang residents, and catalyse regional development.

BBSN, equipped with seven platforms, was previously underutilised due to poor access and fewer stoppages.

Under the Rs 250 crore Amrit Bharat development plan, the station had undergone massive upgrades. A 100-foot-wide approach road is being planned from Nandankanan Road, while another road from Raghunathpur is under review.

The State has also cleared commercial expansion proposals for malls, offices, and business centres near the railway station, with around 10 lakh sqft of space under development, half reserved for commercial purposes.