TV
Citing immense benefits and significance for commuters, a demand has come forward for the extension of the Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express to Koraput via Araku Valley.
In memorandums submitted to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Congress Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati has reportedly proposed adding 215 km to the train’s existing 444 km route, according to The Times of India.
The Jeypore also reportedly argued that the re-routing should be feasible as it would stretch the total distance to 669 km, within Vande Bharat’s operational limit of 800 km.
The extension aims to address poor rail connectivity in tribal-dominated Koraput, where only the Hirakhand Express links Bhubaneswar.
Bahinipati stated that the new route would ease overcrowding on the Hirakhand Express and boost development in backwards blocks like Nandapur, Lamtaput, and bordering districts such as Nabarangpur and Malkangiri.
Further, he stressed that the journey from Bhubaneswar to Koraput could take nine hours post-extension, compared to five hours for the current Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam trip.
Railway Board Revises Route, Adds Stops
Flagged off in March 2024, the Railway Board revised plans for Odisha’s third Vande Bharat Express, shifting its route from Puri-Visakhapatnam to Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam.
As of now, the semi-high-speed train runs six days a week (excluding Mondays) with halts at
Khurda Road, Balugaon, Berhampur, Ichapuram, Palasa, Srikakulam Road, and Vizianagaram. Departing Bhubaneswar at 5:15 am, it reaches Vizag by 11 am.
Further, the return journey starts at 3:30 pm from Vizag, arriving in Bhubaneswar by 9:30 pm, covering the 669 km stretch will be covered in six hours.
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Hyderabad Extension Demand Gains Momentum
Despite the approved Bhubaneswar-Vizag route, Odisha residents and the state government have pushed for extending the service to Hyderabad. Thousands of Odia workers in Andhra Pradesh’s cities argue that such connectivity would boost intra-state travel and economic activity.
Train Configuration and Maintenance
Currently, the eight-coach train includes one executive chair car and seven chair cars, with primary maintenance occurring at Bhubaneswar, as confirmed by the Railway Board’s coaching director in a letter to East Coast Railway.
