Vaishnaw Inaugurates Gopinathpur Nilgiri-Balasore Railway Line, Flags Off MEMU Train

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the 18 km stretch of the Gopinathpur Nilgiri-Balasore passenger railway line on Saturday, marking a significant addition to the rail connectivity in the region. The minister also flagged off a newly introduced Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) train that will operate thrice daily between Gopinathpur Nilgiri and Balasore in the South Eastern Railway division.

During the inaugural event at Gopinathpur Nilgiri railway station, Vaishnaw highlighted the substantial financial support for railway infrastructure development in Odisha under the NDA government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He mentioned that Odisha receives an average of Rs 10,000 crore annually for railway development, a notable increase compared to the lower allocation during the UPA government.

Vaishnaw emphasized the special attention Odisha is receiving for railway development under Modi's leadership, eliminating the need for delegations from the state to seek it. He pointed out the significant expansion of the national railway network, with the average track expansion increasing from 25 to 30 km a year to over 450 km per year.

Addressing specific railway projects in Odisha, Vaishnaw mentioned the completion of the survey work for the Jaleswar-Chandaneswar rail route, which will soon be extended to Digha in West Bengal. Additionally, a new railway flyover at Khatapada in Balasore district is set to be commissioned.

According to officials from South Eastern Railway, three pairs of MEMU passenger specials will run daily between Gopinathpur Nilgiri and Balasore starting January 14. These trains will consist of a total of eight coaches, including two motor coaches and six trailer coaches.

The historical context of the railway line was also highlighted, as it was originally built in 1909 by the British to transport granite stones and forest products from Nilgiri to Kolkata via Balasore. Over time, the line was abandoned and nearly defunct.

During his visit to Balasore, Minister Vaishnaw laid the foundation stone for a subway at Betanoti railway station to enhance passenger amenities and inaugurated a booking counter. The minister commenced his 2-day Balasore visit with prayers at the renowned Khirachora Gopinath Temple, accompanied by Balasore MP and former minister Pratap Sarangi. Vaishnaw also participated in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra at Remuna Hanuman Kalyan Mandap.

ET