President Draupadi Murmu flagged off the first express train to her native village Rairangpur in Badampahar, Odisha, marking a significant day for the region. Three new trains were flagged during her visit: Shalimar - Badampahar - Shalimar Weekly Express, Badampahar - Rourkela - Badampahar Weekly Express, and Tatanagar - Badampahar - Tatanagar MEMU Service. President Murmu emphasized the importance of connectivity for an area's development, stating that these trains would facilitate travel for locals to neighboring states like Jharkhand and West Bengal, and to Rourkela, an industrial town in Odisha.
She highlighted the enduring relevance of India Post despite modern communication methods and inaugurated a new Postal Division at Rairangpur, expressing confidence in easier access to postal services for the region's people. President Murmu also underlined the government's initiatives for tribal community development, stressing the need for inclusive growth and urging tribal youth to take advantage of government schemes for self-development.
The President mentioned the PM JANMAN initiative launched for the development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), envisioning its role in connecting people with development and contributing to India's progress.
Additionally, President Murmu virtually inaugurated the new Rairangpur Postal Division, released a Commemorative Special Cover, and laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Badampahar Railway station. This event marked the first time express train services commenced in President Murmu's village and the region, which had been eagerly anticipated by the locals for over a century since train services began in 1911.
Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted the significance of this development in the indigenous cultural center, emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to regional development, especially in tribal areas. Vaishnaw spoke of transformative changes in remote areas, including the installation of telecom towers, opening of post offices, and overall socio-economic progress under PM Modi's leadership since 2014, instilling confidence and trust among the masses.
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