KotpadSept 23 [UDN}:: A demand has been raised to extend the newly introduced train service operating between Puri and Koraput up to Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, with residents of the Kotpad region and neighbouring districts seeking better rail connectivity.
The Kotpad Intellectuals’ Forum submitted a memorandum through the Kotpad Station Master to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) of Rayagada and Bhubaneswar, and the General Manager of the East Coast Railway at Bhubaneswar, urging authorities to consider extending the service to Jagdalpur.
A delegation led by forum convener Pankaj Patra, along with advocate Pradeep Bakshi, Srimanta Panda, Chinmay Sarangi and K. Ravi Kumar, was present during the submission of the memorandum.
According to the forum, the present schedule of the Puri–Koraput train creates difficulties for passengers from Kotpad and adjoining areas. The train reaches Koraput around midnight and departs towards Bhubaneswar at around 5 am, making it inconvenient for passengers who need to travel during the late-night and early-morning hours.
The forum said extending the train to Jagdalpur would provide a more convenient rail connection for people from Kotpad and surrounding areas. It would also benefit residents of neighbouring Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts, who face difficulties in accessing suitable train services.
The organisation has further informed that a delegation is likely to meet the Railway Minister in person and request intervention to fulfil the demand of the people of the region.
The demand comes amid continuing calls for improved railway connectivity across the Koraput–Kotpad–Malkangiri–Nabarangpur belt, where residents have been seeking better links with major cities and neighbouring regions.
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