Full operations of three express trains begin at Bhubaneswar New Railway Station; transformation on the cards

Starting today (May 12), Bhubaneswar New Railway Station (BBSN) has become the full-time hub for three major express trains, marking a pivotal shift in Odisha’s rail infrastructure. 

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) confirmed that the Konark Express (Mumbai route), Visakha Express (Secunderabad route), and Visakhapatnam Intercity Express will now originate and terminate at BBSN.

Notably, this move aims to decongest Bhubaneswar’s main station, streamline travel for North Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Barang residents, and catalyse regional development.

Revised Routes and Schedules

1. Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Konark Express (11019/11020):

The Mumbai-bound train (11019) will terminate at BBSN from May 11, arriving at Bhubaneswar Main Station by 11:55 PM before proceeding to BBSN via a 2-minute halt at Mancheswar.

The return journey (11020) departs BBSN at 2:40 PM from May 12, stopping at Mancheswar and the Main Station en route to Mumbai.

2. Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Visakha Express (17015/17016):

The Secunderabad service (17016) ends at BBSN from May 11, departing the Main Station at 4:00 PM.

The Bhubaneswar-Secunderabad train (17015) leaves BBSN at 8:00 AM from May 12.

3. Visakhapatnam Intercity Express (22819/22820):

The Visakhapatnam-bound train (22820) terminates at BBSN from May 12, departing the Main Station at 12:15 AM.

The return service (22819) departs BBSN at 7:15 AM.

All trains will pause for 20 minutes at the Main Station and 2 minutes at Mancheswar to ease passenger transfers.

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Why the Shift Matters

BBSN, operational since 2018 but underutilised, is poised to become a modern transit hub under Indian Railways’ Amrit Bharat Scheme.

The station is equipped with seven platforms, expanded parking, upgraded waiting areas, and improved amenities. Redirecting express trains here alleviates pressure on Bhubaneswar Main Station, which sees over 100,000 daily passengers, as well as the Cuttack Station.

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Rs 250 Crore Transformation Plan

An upcoming transformation for the Bhubaneswar New Railway Station lies on the anvil. ECoR’s ambitious upgrade includes a 100-foot-wide approach road from Nandankanan Road and a proposed link between Raghunathpur and BBSN to enhance accessibility.

State-approved commercial projects around the station, including corporate offices, malls, and business centres, aim to create 10 lakh square feet of space, with half earmarked for commerce.

The upgrades align with projections that BBSN’s footfall could surge alongside Bhubaneswar Main Station’s expected rise to 400,000 daily passengers. Future plans include foot-over bridges, advanced lighting, and expanded station infrastructure.