Question : New Intercity Train

(a) whether the Railways have any proposal to start new Rayagada to Bhubaneshwar Intercity train, new Visakhapatnam to Jeypore Intercity train, Visakhapatnam to Mumbai via Rayagada train and Jeypore to Raipur Jn. Intercity train;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be provided or the steps taken/being taken by the Railways to augment the above train services;

(c) whether the Railways are considering stoppage of all express trains/ important trains of Bissam Cuttack Ambadola (Rayagada district); and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which these stoppages are likely to be provided?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b) Presently, 4 pairs of trains connect Rayagada with Bhubaneswar. Further, 3 pairs of train services for Mumbai (including one pair via Rayagada), and 2 pairs of train services for
Jeypore are available from Visakhapatnam. One pair of Express train connects Jeypore with Raipur. Introduction of additional trains on these routes is not feasible, at present, due to operational and resource constraints including terminal constraints at Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai & Raipur and line capacity constraints on sections en-route.
(c) & (d) At present, Bissam Cuttack and Ambodala stations are being served by 4 pairs & 11 pairs of train services respectively. Stoppage of additional Mail/Express services at these stations is presently, not operationally expedient. However, passengers of these stations may avail changeover at Titlagarh/Rayagada. Besides, provision of stoppage of train services is an ongoing process on Indian Railways, subject to operational feasibility and commercial justification.
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