Bhubaneswar, June 22: The Odisha government today urged the Centre to introduce two express trains from Nayagarh to Howrah and Visakhapatnam and also extend the Howrah-Bhubaneswar Garib Rath to Nayagarh.

Three days ago, Nayagarh got connected with the rail network with the first passenger train rolling on up to the area. Union railways minister Suresh Prabhu had dedicated the 12-km-long Balagarh-Nayagarh rail line stretch of the Khurdha Road-Balangir project through videoconference from New Delhi.

In a letter to Prabhu, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik thanked him for bringing the Nayagarh district headquarters on the railways map. "It's now important to provide connectivity to the people of this area to the nearest large railway hubs," he said.

At present, only two passenger trains are plying over 65km stretch between Khurda Road and Nayagarh stations.

"I would request that one express train each to Howrah and Visakhapatnam may be introduced from Nayagarh town to offer the people the benefit of the new railway line connectivity," said the Odisha chief minister.

"The Garib Rath that is plying between Bhubaneswar and Howrah may be considered for extension up to Nayagarh town. Similarly, a new intercity type train from Nayagarh to Visakhapatnam may be introduced to give the people of Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Boudh and Ganjam districts an access to the large coastal belt of the state as well as to the hubs of Howrah and Visakhapatnam," said Naveen.

The Khurda Road-Balangir rail line project (289km) had been sanctioned in 1994-95, but it hardly made any headway.

The construction of the project speeded up only after the state government entered into a joint venture with the railways in 2015.

The Odisha government offered to provide land free of cost and committed to share 50 per cent of the project cost.

The stretch between Khurda Road and Begunia completed last year and passenger trains started plying on the stretch.

The Odisha government had also signed an MoU with the Union railways to execute the Jeypore-Malkangiri and the Jeypore-Nabarangpur railway lines.

The Odisha chief minister today requested the railways minister for early commencement of work on the two state partnership projects.

The Odisha chief minister also reminded the Union railways minister about Odisha's demand for re-commissioning of Paralakhemundi and Kashinagar rail stations on Nawapada-Gunupur railway line and introduction of daily train from Bhubaneswar or Khurda to Mumbai in the name of legendary warrior Buxi Jagabandhu.