Sambalpur, 2nd Aug 2025: A strong demand has been raised for a new direct train service from Western Odisha to Bengaluru to ease travel for thousands of passengers. The Satya Sai Seva Samiti has formally submitted a memorandum to the Union Railway Minister requesting this connection. Copies of the memorandum have also been sent to Sambalpur MP and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as the Chairman of the Railway Board.
According to committee convenor Dilip Kumar Paramar, a direct train would greatly benefit passengers from Western Odisha wishing to travel to Bengaluru, Anantapur, and Puttaparthi. Currently, the Prashanti Express, which runs from Bhubaneswar, is overcrowded, and another fast train is urgently needed.
The proposed train should originate from Sambalpur, enabling passengers across Western Odisha to avail its services. At present, there is no direct train between Sambalpur and Bengaluru, forcing passengers to travel via indirect and often inconvenient routes.
A key location on this route is Puttaparthi, home to the world-renowned Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, which offers free cardiac treatment. Many heart patients from this region travel there, and the lack of a direct train causes significant hardship.
In addition, numerous devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba regularly visit Puttaparthi on pilgrimages. A direct train would make their journey easier. Many people also commute regularly to Bengaluru for employment, and their families are settled across various towns in Western Odisha.
This train would also support cultural and economic exchange between Western Odisha and Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, where long-standing trade and cultural ties exist.
Given these factors — health, employment, spirituality, and regional connectivity — the memorandum stresses the urgent need for a direct train between Sambalpur and Bengaluru.
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