Odisha: Restore train services in flood-ravaged area, CM Naveen Patnaik urges Railways

Bhubaneswar, Aug 10 (SURYAA): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday urged Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to ensure quick restoration of train services on the Rayagada-Singapur route in Sambalpur division.

A rail bridge on the route was washed away in the July 16 floods, disrupting railway services.

In a letter to Prabhu, the Chief Minister urged the commissioning of the second bridge on the section as early as possible.

This section connects the large hinterlands of Odisha, covering the districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Bolangir, Patnaik said.

He said with a single track in use, the East Coast Railway was likely to run not more than 50 per cent of the passenger trains to these areas.

Five up and down trains have been cancelled and eight up and down trains diverted via Raipur, Nagpur and Bhopal, bypassing most of Odisha, he added.