Bhubaneswar, March 3 -- The Indian Railways has converted two special trains connecting Baripada in Mayurbhanj district with Puri and Kolkata into regular services. The move is expected to strengthen rail connectivity across northern and coastal Odisha and provide improved access to key urban centres.

The trains regularised are the Bhanjpur-Puri Special (08011/08012) and the Shalimar-Bhanjpur Special (08007/08008), which were earlier operating temporarily.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the regularisation of the services.

In a tweet, he wrote, "Grateful to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon'ble Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVai...