How To Reach Rourkela

Rourkela, also known as Ispat Nagar, is a city situated in the Sundergarh district of northern Orissa. Surrounded by majestic hills and beautiful rivers and lakes, Rourkela is a top tourist spot in the state that is around 340 km away from the capital city Bhubaneswar. The city is also situated in the mineral rich belt of Orissa and is the location of one of the most important steel plants in the country, which has brought considerable recognition to Rourkela and marked it as a commercially significant city in Orissa. Rising from a simple tribal township to become one of the most established urban communities in the state, Rourkela is one of the best places to check out in Orissa. For those who already have this city planned out in their itinerary, detailed below are some of the most convenient ways to reach Rourkela. 

Rourkela has its own private airstrip, which is mostly used by the officials of SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd) and other VIPs and official dignitaries. For regular commercial purposes, the nearest airport from Rourkela is the Birsa Munda Airport located in Ranchi, Jharkhand about 170 km away. Within Orissa, travellers may also choose to fly in to the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. At 333 km away, it is considerably farther away from Rourkela than Ranchi is.

The Rourkela Railway Station is situated on the Howrah – Mumbai line and Ranchi – Bhubaneswar line, and is the main railhead that connects the city to the rest of the country via trains. All trains operating under the South Eastern Railway pass through this junction; important trains like Garib Rath, Rajdhani Express, Jammu Tawi Express and Rajya Rani Express operate to and from this junction on a regular basis.

With a good road network that connects Rourkela to all major cities nearby like Bhubaneswar, Puri, Kolkata, Ranchi and Raipur, there are a number of convenient options to reach Rourkela via road. State Highway 10 and National Highway 23 connect Rourkela to a number of cities with Orissa. Buses run by OSRTC as well as private buses ply regularly between these cities and are available as AC, non-AC and sleeper buses. Private taxis can also be rented for covering the same journey for a more convenient travel experience. 

Within the city, auto rickshaws and buses are easily available everywhere for easy commute to all important locations. Taxis and private cabs can also be hired for a more convenient, albeit more expensive, travel experience.