Naupada-Gunupur train service to resume today

BHUBANESWAR:  East Coast Railway (ECoR) has decided to resume train services on Naupada-Gunupur route, which suffered heavy damage due to cyclone Titli, from Wednesday. Repair of tracks on the route connecting Paralakhemundi has already been completed. Railway tracks of about one km of the single line were washed away between Tekkali and Peddasana stations in Kottabomali-Gunupur section due to cyclone-induced rain, disrupting train services between Gunupur and Naupada for the last over 10 days.

“The repair work has been completed a day ahead of the deadline. An empty engine and later, another train were run on the repaired track on a trial basis on Tuesday. Trains will ply on the track as per schedule,” said chief PRO of ECoR JP Mishra.Initially, repair work was delayed as the entire stretch was submerged in floodwater and the approach road built to reach the damaged tracks was also washed away. 

As per the decision, Puri-Gunupur and Visakhapatnam-Gunupur passenger trains will run according to their previous schedule from Wednesday and Rourkela-Gunupur Rajyarani Express will run regularly from October 28. Cyclone Titli-induced flood had caused extensive damage to railway tracks. Though the mainline has been restored, station buildings at Palasa, Paralakhemundi and Mandasa are yet to be repaired. Some staff quarters were also damaged in the cyclone.