Jamshedpur, Nov. 1: The South Eastern Railway (SER) has decided to introduce two trains linking Ranchi to Bangalore and Mumbai.

The trains, which would run via Rourkela, would begin to operate from next month. Sources at SER headquarters at Garden Reach in Calcutta said the decision was taken after passengers raised the pitch for the trains in the stretch.

The chief of passenger traffic has issued a circular, specifying the arrival and departure timings of the train. However, the dates for the train-run are still to be finalised, sources said.

The SER Chakradharpur division had earlier sent a recommendation to Garden Reach to run the two trains, following a request from passengers and the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce.

Officials of Chakradharpur division said the new trains would help boost industrial activities in Rourkela.

Senior divisional commercial manager of Chakradharpur division M.N. Ojha said: “Barring Bokaro-Alleppy Express, there is no other train from Ranchi which goes via Rourkela. Therefore, the railway authorities decided to introduce the two trains, one linking Ranchi to Jaswantpur in Bangalore and the other linking Ranchi to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) in Mumbai.”

The trains would be flagged off by SER general manager V.N. Garg from Ranchi railway station. Officials of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce have welcomed the decision. “. We welcome the decision as it would take care of the growing needs of the passengers,” said an official of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce.