Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: In a landmark day for Odisha’s rail infrastructure, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, and Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, today 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 later marks the upgrade of the service from tri-weekly to daily operation, fulfilling a long-cherished aspiration of the people.
Simultaneously, from Rail Sadan, Bhubaneswar, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw presided over a Video Conferencing programme to flag off the Nanded–Mumbai and Tanakpur–Nanded Express trains, and to inaugurate the extension of the Tanakpur–Pilibhit service up to Shahjahanpur, reinforcing Indian Railways’ commitment to national integration.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister and the Railway Minister inspected the ongoing redevelopment of Puri Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and reviewed comprehensive preparedness for the ongoing Rath Yatra. They assessed the progress of station modernization and the arrangements instituted for safe, seamless, and dignified travel for lakhs of devotees converging on Puri.
The Railway Minister conducted a detailed review of crowd management, passenger movement, operational readiness, and passenger amenities. Senior railway officials apprised the dignitaries of the integrated operational blueprint. He informed that Indian Railways has scheduled the operation of over 300 Special Trains during Rath Yatra, established holding areas for more than 30,000 devotees, augmented ticketing counters, strengthened food distribution mechanisms, and enhanced safety and passenger amenities to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience.
The newly introduced Puri–Koraput Express fulfills a historic demand by establishing direct rail connectivity between the sacred city of Puri and the tribal heartland of Koraput. The service will serve pilgrims, tourists, students, patients, traders, and local communities, while forging robust links between coastal, western, and southern Odisha through Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Angul, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Kakiriguma, and Damanjodi.
The inaugural run heralds the commencement of regular Train No. 18407/18408 Puri–Koraput–Puri Express. Detailed schedules will be notified separately. The train will operate from Puri on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and from Koraput on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
The Brahmapur–Udhna (Surat) Amrit Bharat Express, connecting Odisha with Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, has emerged as a vital lifeline for migrant workers, students, traders, and general passengers. Its transition to daily service will significantly enhance travel flexibility, integrate Odisha with major industrial and commercial hubs, and catalyze trade, employment, and economic activity.
At Brahmapur, the Union Railway Minister announced that Brahmapur Railway Station will be redeveloped into a world-class facility under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at an estimated cost of approximately ₹300 crore. The transformed station will feature state-of-the-art passenger amenities, contemporary architecture, enhanced accessibility, and seamless multimodal integration, positioning it as a landmark gateway for southern Odisha. The Minister assured that he would return to Brahmapur to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony for this ambitious redevelopment.
In a significant announcement, Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw declared that a new train service will be introduced for North Odisha to strengthen railway connectivity across the state. Responding to persistent public demand for improved rail access in the region, the Minister assured that just as services have been expanded across western, southern, and coastal Odisha, North Odisha will now receive a dedicated train service tailored to its connectivity needs.
Shri Vaishnaw reaffirmed the Government’s resolve, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to continuously expand the railway network across Odisha, ensuring equitable access and enhanced passenger services for every region, thereby advancing the vision of ‘Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat’.
