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On Sunday, Odisha received a significant boost in its rail connectivity with the introduction of two new Vande Bharat express trains.
On Sunday, Odisha received a significant boost in its rail connectivity with the introduction of two new Vande Bharat express trains. This addition increases the state’s fleet of semi-high-speed trains to five. Among the new services, the Raipur-Vishakhapatnam Vande Bharat train, scheduled to commence on September 16, will traverse Odisha as well.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated six Vande Bharat trains from Tatanagar Junction Railway Station in Jharkhand. The new routes include Tatanagar-Patna, Brahmapur-Tatanagar, Rourkela-Howrah, Deoghar-Varanasi, Bhagalpur-Howrah, and Gaya-Howrah. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, present at Brahmapur for a special event, emphasized that the Brahmapur-Tatanagar train would significantly enhance tourism and trade in Berhampur, known as the Silk City.
Majhi highlighted that three existing Vande Bharat trains in Odisha—Puri-Howrah, Puri-Rourkela, and Bhubaneswar-Vishakhapatnam—will now be complemented by the new Brahmapur-Tatanagar, Rourkela-Howrah, and Raipur-Vishakhapatnam services. He noted that these trains will act as vital links for southern and western Odisha, promoting economic development and improved communication in tribal areas.
The Union government has committed Rs 1 lakh crore for Odisha’s rail infrastructure, with Rs 20,000 crore allocated for new rail lines this financial year and Rs 10,586 crore for railway development in 2024-25. The Amrit Bharat Station scheme will modernize 52 stations, including Puri and Bhubaneswar.
