Bargarh Loksabha MP Pradeep Purohit Urges Railway Minister for New Trains and Better Connectivity in Western Odisha

In a strong push for railway infrastructure development in Western Odisha, Bargarh Loksabha Member of Parliament Pradeep Purohit has written a detailed letter to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Highlighting the pressing needs of passengers in Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts, the MP has sought urgent intervention for new train connections, crucial route extensions, and the upgradation of basic station amenities. Here is a breakdown of the primary demands raised by the MP to boost regional growth and passenger convenience:
He also demanded for a Direct Bargarh-Bhubaneswar Morning Train to facilitate better connectivity with the state capital. MP Purohit emphasized the urgent need for a new morning Intercity Express running directly from Bargarh to Bhubaneswar. Alternatively, he suggested that the existing train services terminating at Sambalpur could be extended to Bargarh, which would serve thousands of daily commuters.
Addressing the Severe Delays of Ispat Express drawing attention to the plight of daily passengers, the MP highlighted the persistent delays of the 12871/12872 Ispat Express (Kantabanji-Howrah). The train is currently running late by 7 to 8 hours on a regular basis. This chronic delay is causing immense hardship for students, patients seeking medical treatment, and local businessmen. He has requested the Railway Ministry to take immediate steps to ensure the train’s punctuality.
One of the most critical points raised in the letter is the condition of the Brajarajnagar railway station. Despite being a major industrial hub—home to Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), NTPC, and Orient Paper Mills—and generating over ₹4,200 crore annually in coal freight revenue for the Indian Railways, the passenger amenities here remain dismal . He has demanded: The immediate restoration of the stoppage for the Tata-Bilaspur Express.
New stoppages for major trains including the Azad Hind Express, Secunderabad-Darbhanga Express, Hyderabad-Raxaul Express, Puri-Bikaner Express, and Puri-Valsad Express. Basic infrastructure upgrades at the station, such as modern toilets, better lighting systems, and electronic coach locators for passenger convenience.Crucial Train Extensions and Frequency Upgrades To further strengthen the railway network across Western Odisha, MP Purohit outlined several key operational demands:
New Route: Introduction of a brand-new train running between Bilaspur and Puri. Extensions: Extending the Gondwana Express up to Sambalpur, the Jan Shatabdi Express up to Jharsuguda/Rourkela, and the Jharsuguda-Hatia Passenger up to Rayagada.

Increased Frequency: Upgrading the Hirakud Express to run daily, rather than its current schedule of just three days a week.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and New Railway Lines
Focusing on long-term infrastructure, the letter requests that the development of the Belpahar railway station be accelerated under the central government’s ‘Amrit Bharat Station’ scheme.

Finally, MP Purohit urged the Railway Minister to prioritize the completion of the much-awaited Bargarh-Nuapada railway line. He noted that the timely execution of this project is critical for the economic development of Western Odisha and the KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput) region.