Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be visiting Jharkhand on Saturday, will flag off the new Tatanagar-Badampahar DEMU (diesel electric multiple unit) Passenger train from Baripada when he reaches Odisha later in the day.

Officials at Garden Reach, the headquarters of South Eastern Railway (SER) in Calcutta, while confirming this on Friday, said that the flag-off would be conducted through a video link.

“We have received a confirmation about the programme. The flag-off function will be held around 2.30 pm. Jharkhand governor Droupadi Murmu and local MP of Jamshedpur Bidyut Baran Mahato would be present at Tatanagar railway station during the ceremony,' Sanjay Ghosh, the chief public relations officer of SER, told The Telegraph over phone from Calcutta.

Currently, one train runs between Tatanagar and Badampahar. It leaves Tatanagar at 6am and reaches Badampahar at 10.25am. On its return journey, the train leaves Badampahar at 8.40am. It’s scheduled arrival time at Tatanagar is 3.15pm.

The train also touches Gorumahisini which is known for iron-ore mines.

The people of Mayurbhanj have been long demanding another train on the route. ”Taking into account the need of the people A decision was taken to run a new DEMU train between the two destinations keeping in mind the people’s wishes. The train has been planned despite several infrastructure constraints,' said the CPRO.

The new train will leave Tatanagar at 3.45am and reach Badampahar at 7.05 am. In its return journey, the train will leave Badampahar at 7.20 am and reach Tatanagar at 10.45 am, covering around 90km. The train is scheduled to stop at half-a-dozen stations in between.

Tatanagar station director H.K. Balmuchu said the new train would benefit the people of Badampahar as they would get an additional train to Tatanagar which is on the Howrah-Mumbai trunk route.

'If the people wish to travel long-distance they can get trains to Mumbai or Howrah from Tatanagar. Students, industrial workers, local businessmen and vendors are regulars on the existing train that connects the industrial town of Jamshedpur with underdeveloped Mayurbhanj district of Odisha,” he said.

Arun Tiwari, a senior functionary of Chhotanagpur Passenger Association, welcomed the new train. “The introduction of an additional passenger train will especially benefit the people of Mayurbhanj district (Odisha). Apart from improving rail connectivity it will also ensure better economic development of the area,' he said.