Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the run through video conferencing from Hatia.
DRM Rajendra Prasad said that last year this train was declared in the railway budget but it could not materialise. Now it has been launched as a part of strategy to complete the backlogs before declaring new trains.
This DMU is an advanced version in comparison to the already plying between the two cities. It has both side engines. Besides, it has bio-toilet in it as per government's plan to keep the tracks clean.
The train will leave Rourkela at 7.25 AM and reach Sambalpur at 10.35 AM. The return journey will start at 11.40 AM and will reach Rourkela 4.05 PM.
The DMU will be helpful for all those who have any official work at Sambalpur or students going to the university. The train will ply on all the six days. It will remain off the track on Sundays.