THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 6, 2026

In a major boost to rail connectivity in Odisha and enhanced travel convenience for passengers, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday flagged off the inaugural Puri–Koraput Express Special from Puri Railway Station and the Brahmapur–Udhna (Surat) Amrit Bharat Express Inaugural Special from Brahmapur Railway Station. The launch also marked the commencement of the Amrit Bharat Express as a daily service, replacing its existing tri-weekly operation.

The inauguration represents another significant step in expanding Odisha's rail network and improving connectivity to major pilgrimage centres, tribal regions and industrial hubs, while offering greater convenience to commuters, students, traders and migrant workers.

In another major development, Vaishnaw participated in a video conferencing programme from Rail Sadan, Bhubaneswar, where he simultaneously flagged off the Nanded–Mumbai and Tanakpur–Nanded Express trains and inaugurated the extension of the Tanakpur–Pilibhit train service up to Shahjahanpur. The initiatives reflect Indian Railways' continuing efforts to strengthen rail connectivity across the country.

Besides inaugurating the new services, the Chief Minister and the Railway Minister inspected the ongoing redevelopment of Puri Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and reviewed Indian Railways' preparedness for the ongoing Rath Yatra. They assessed the progress of station modernisation works and took stock of arrangements made to ensure safe, smooth and comfortable travel for the lakhs of devotees visiting Puri during the annual festival.

During the review, the Railway Minister examined crowd management measures, passenger movement plans, operational preparedness and passenger amenities. Senior Railway officials briefed the dignitaries on the integrated operational strategy designed for the mega religious congregation.

The Indian Railways has planned to operate more than 300 special trains during the Rath Yatra. In addition, holding areas with a capacity to accommodate over 30,000 devotees have been created, while additional ticket counters, food distribution facilities and enhanced safety measures and passenger amenities have been put in place to ensure seamless travel during the festival.

A major highlight of the day's launch was the introduction of the Puri–Koraput Express, fulfilling a long-standing demand for direct rail connectivity between the holy city of Puri and the tribal heartland of Koraput. The new service is expected to greatly benefit pilgrims, tourists, students, patients, traders and local residents by providing a convenient travel option across diverse regions of the state.

The train will also strengthen connectivity between coastal, western and southern Odisha, passing through important stations including Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Angul, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Kakiriguma and Damanjodi.

The inaugural service marks the beginning of the regular Train No. 18407/18408 Puri–Koraput–Puri Express, the detailed timetable of which will be notified separately. The train will depart from Puri on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while services from Koraput will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Meanwhile, the Brahmapur–Udhna (Surat) Amrit Bharat Express, which connects Odisha with Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, has emerged as an important rail link for workers, students, traders and other passengers travelling to key economic centres. Its conversion into a daily service is expected to significantly improve travel flexibility, strengthen connectivity with major industrial and commercial hubs, and further support trade, employment and economic activities across the region.