Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology, announced today that the Banaras-Sambalpur-Banaras bi-weekly Express will now run from Sambalpur Railway Station to Visakhapatnam.
Sambalpur MP Nitesh Gangadev and MLA Nauri Naik are among the other dignitaries in attendance on this momentous occasion. Via video conferences at the stations on Bargarh Road, Balangir, and Kesinga, respectively, MPs Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Niranjan Bishi, and Basanta Kumar Panda graced the occasion.
The train will operate as a special train from Sambalpur to Visakhapatnam on its inaugural run. But starting on November 22 from Visakhapatnam and starting on November 23 from Banaras, regular service in the extended section of this train will be provided. This train has been extended to Visakhapatnam without affecting the planned timings and stoppages between Sambalpur and Banaras.
The extension of the train to Visakhapatnam is a game-changer for the people of Southern and Western Odisha. The extension of this train from Sambalpur to Visakhapatnam will serve as a lifeline for the residents of Western and Southern Odisha travelling for various other reasons like Business, Education and Medical Treatment. Apart from this, it will boost to tourism and cultural exchange having direct connectivity between Banaras and Visakhapatnam.
