Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar-Krishnarajpuram (Bengaluru) Humsafar Express began its maiden journey from the the Bhubaneswar Railway Station at 2.30 pm today. Union Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagged off the Express train through video conferencing from New Delhi.
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present at the flag off ceremony.
Odisha Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha MP Prasanna Kumar Patasani, Bhubaneswar (North) MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, Bhubaneswar (Centre) MLA Bijaya Kumar Mohanty and other senior officials were present here at Bhubaneswar Railway Station during the event.
Humsafar Express carries 16 AC-3 tier coaches, one pantry car and two guard-cum-generator car. The important stoppages of this train include Khurda Road, Brahmapur, Palasa, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Duvvada, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jollarpettai and Bangarpet.
Prabhu also laid the foundation stone for Mechanised Laundry under BOOT Model at Bhubaneswar Station and inaugurated free Wi-Fi service at Sambalpur and Vizianagarm Railway Stations.
Ms Kalinga