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Balasore has a strong and reliable transportation network that connects the district to major cities.
Balasore has a strong and reliable transportation network that connects the district to major cities. The South Eastern Railway covers 102 km through the district, offering smooth and easy connections to Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Chennai. Many popular and fast trains like the Dhauli Express, Falaknama Express, East-Coast Express, Puri Express, and Jagannath Express stop at Balasore, along with several useful local trains.
Important and busy national highways—NH-16 (formerly known as NH-5), which covers 66 km, and NH-60, which covers 53 km—cross the district, forming part of the Kolkata–Chennai route. Balasore is about 220 km by road from Kolkata and 215 km by road from Bhubaneswar, making travel quick and comfortable. Roads also connect the city well with Cuttack, while other convenient routes like Kolaghat–Digha–Jaleswar and Belda offer additional access. Regular buses from Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Puri, and other cities make road travel simple and affordable.
The nearest airport is in Bhubaneswar, about 198 km away, offering easy and regular flights to major cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Raipur, and Nagpur. Travellers can reach both Kolkata International Airport and Bhubaneswar Airport from Balasore in around four hours, making air travel comfortable and hassle-free.
Within the city, getting around is easy and convenient with cycle rickshaws and auto-rickshaws serving as the main modes of local transport. The introduction of city bus services on 15 August 2017 added a comfortable and dependable option for daily commuters. These buses operate from the Sahadev Khunta terminus, where numerous private buses depart each day for a wide range of destinations. In addition, several luxurious AC buses travel daily to Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, and other nearby cities, offering a smooth and pleasant journey for long-distance travellers. Apart from these, trekkers, battery rickshaws (e-rickshaws), and private taxis operate throughout the city. Bike taxis operate in some areas (such as Ola and other local services, depending on availability). For Chandipur Beach, travellers commonly use local auto-rickshaws.