Bhubaneswar: On his maiden visit to Odisha, newly appointed Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced that Vande Bharat Express train to be connected to Jagannath Dham Puri very soon.
“Puri is one of the popular tourist and religious destinations in the world and assumes rich cultural significance. Development of Puri station is underway and plan is there to bringing Vande Bharat Express to Puri and we hope it will start soon,” Mr.Vaishnaw told reporters in Puri.
He said seven important portfolios have been given to Odisha. Development works will be taken under the guidance of senior leader Dharmendra Pradhan, he stated.
Addressing the nation on this Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that 75 Vande Bharat trains will be introduced connecting every corner of the country in 75 weeks of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence.
Mr.Vaishnaw along with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are in Odisha to take part on the ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’.
They have given a rousing welcome here at the airport, party office and various places in Bhubaneswar and Puri. This is the first visit of the two ministers to state, after reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers.
Soon after reaching here, both the minister visited Jagannath Temple in Puri. As the temple has not been reopened for devotees from other places excluding Puri, both the leaders paid obeisance to the Lords at Singhadwara (Lions Gate).
The leaders also visited Satyabadi Bana Vidyalaya. Pradhan said he was very keen to visit the school on his first visit to Odisha after taking charge as Education minister. He interacted with the teachers and students studying there.
After returning from Puri, they visited BJP party office, where a grand welcome ceremony was organized for the two ministers.
Addressing party workers, Mr.Vaishnaw said the Prime Minister has always given emphasis for Mission Purvodaya, for the development of the area and brining the people to mainstream.
He will take steps for development of railways in the state, providing internet connectivity to every households and postal banking in rural areas.
As per the schedule, Vaishnav left for Rayagada in Hirakhand Express in the evening. He will visit Koraput, Jeypore, Nabarangpur, Bhawanipatna, Balangir and arrive in Bhubaneswar on August 22. Dharmendra will hold programmes in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khurda during the three days.
Both the Ministers are scheduled to attend as many as 115 events in six Lok Sabha constituencies under seven districts of the State during the three-day program. The main objective of their program is to take the various schemes of Modi Government to the people.