Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express yesterday, marking its 17th edition and the first for Odisha. The ultra-modern semi-high-speed train, equipped with top-notch passenger amenities, was flagged off via video conferencing, along with the foundation stone laying and dedication of railway projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore in Odisha. Governor Ganeshi Lal, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as local MP Pinaki Mishra and MLA Jayanta Kumar Sarangi, attended the launch event at Puri railway station.
PM Modi emphasized that the Vande Bharat Express symbolizes India’s progress, presenting the gift of modernity to the people of Odisha and West Bengal. He stressed the importance of unity in strengthening the country and highlighted how these trains reflect the spirit of collective strength. As part of the railway developments, Cuttack and Puri stations will undergo renovation to provide world-class facilities and enhance the passenger experience.
The regular service of the semi-high-speed train, consisting of 16 coaches, will commence on May 20, covering a distance of 500 km between Howrah and Puri in approximately six and a half hours. The train will operate six days a week, excluding Thursdays, with seven stoppages at Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar Road, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Khurda Road. Halts at these stations will be for two minutes only.
Furthermore, PM Modi dedicated the 100 percent electrification of Odisha’s rail network, which will reduce operating and maintenance costs while decreasing reliance on imported crude oil. He also inaugurated the doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line, a new broad gauge rail line between Angul and Sukinda, the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga, and the new broad gauge line between Bichhupali and Jhartarbha. These projects will cater to the increased traffic demands resulting from rapid industrial development in the steel, power, and mining sectors in Odisha, easing passenger traffic in these sections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express yesterday, marking its 17th edition and the first for Odisha. The ultra-modern semi-high-speed train, equipped with top-notch passenger amenities, was flagged off via video conferencing, along with the foundation stone laying and dedication of railway projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore in Odisha. Governor Ganeshi Lal, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as local MP Pinaki Mishra and MLA Jayanta Kumar Sarangi, attended the launch event at Puri railway station.
PM Modi emphasized that the Vande Bharat Express symbolizes India’s progress, presenting the gift of modernity to the people of Odisha and West Bengal. He stressed the importance of unity in strengthening the country and highlighted how these trains reflect the spirit of collective strength. As part of the railway developments, Cuttack and Puri stations will undergo renovation to provide world-class facilities and enhance the passenger experience.
The regular service of the semi-high-speed train, consisting of 16 coaches, will commence on May 20, covering a distance of 500 km between Howrah and Puri in approximately six and a half hours. The train will operate six days a week, excluding Thursdays, with seven stoppages at Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar Road, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Khurda Road. Halts at these stations will be for two minutes only.
Furthermore, PM Modi dedicated the 100 percent electrification of Odisha’s rail network, which will reduce operating and maintenance costs while decreasing reliance on imported crude oil. He also inaugurated the doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line, a new broad gauge rail line between Angul and Sukinda, the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga, and the new broad gauge line between Bichhupali and Jhartarbha. These projects will cater to the increased traffic demands resulting from rapid industrial development in the steel, power, and mining sectors in Odisha, easing passenger traffic in these sections.
