Bhubaneswar: Railways has opened a new station at Sanapadar on the Khurda Road-Balangir new line between Begunia and Rajsunakhala stations. East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said four pairs of trains, including one express train, started halting at Sanapadar from Monday. The trains scheduled to stop at the new station are Bhubaneswar-Daspalla-Bhubaneswar Express, Bhubaneswar-Daspalla-Bhubaneswar MEMU, Bhadrak-Daspalla-Bhadrak MEMU and Puri-Daspalla-Puri MEMU.
Constructed at Rs 55 lakh, the station is equipped with modern amenities like a 450-metre-long platform, six small passenger shelters, benches, 22 light posts, a tubewell, a booking counter and a waiting room with toilets. The development comes after locals of Sanapadar and its nearby villages requested railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for opening a station there during his visit to Daspalla last year. The minister had assured them of help. In addition to Sanapadar station, ECoR sources said the Bhubaneswar-Daspalla-Bhubaneswar Express started halting at Bolagarh Town station from Monday. The train will arrive at Bolagarh Town at 8.03 pm and depart at 8.04 pm towards Daspalla. In the return direction, it will arrive at 7.08 am and depart at 7.09 am towards Bhubaneswar.
“Local public representatives, along with the railway authorities, worked hard to ensure this long-awaited development. This initiative is expected to provide better connectivity for the residents of the surrounding areas, making commuting easier and more convenient,” said the ECoR’s official statement.
The railways is constructing the Khurda Road-Balangir new line from both ends. From the Balangir side, it completed work up to Purunakatak station in Boudh district. From the Khurda Road side, it completed work up to Daspalla station. Out of the 301 km new line project, work on 225.8 km of the new line has been completed.