Union ministers launch Maurya Express for seamless Sambalpur-Gorakhpur connectivity

Sambalpur/New Delhi: Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the extended route of the Sambalpur-Hatia-Gorakhpur Maurya Express from Sambalpur Railway Station on Friday.

The inaugural run, marked as a special event on Friday, will soon transition into regular service from Sambalpur, enhancing connectivity for the residents of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The extension of this crucial train route is poised to be a game-changer, facilitating travel for various purposes, including business, education and medical treatment.

This strategic extension will maintain the scheduled timings and stoppages between Hatia and Gorakhpur, benefiting the residents of Western Odisha. The train will have halts at key stations such as Rengali, Jharsuguda and Rourkela.

Divisional railway manager Tushar Kant Pandey welcomed the guests and dignitaries, emphasising how the Maurya Express will bolster tourism and foster cultural exchange between Gorakhpur and Sambalpur.