TV
Odisha is set to expand its footprint on India’s semi-high-speed rail map with the planned introduction of its seventh and eighth Vande Bharat Express trains, promising faster and more comfortable travel for passengers across the state.
The Indian Railways is preparing to launch a new Tatanagar–Puri Vande Bharat Express, while the state government has confirmed that a Jeypore–Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat service will also be introduced soon.
Together, these two additions are expected to significantly strengthen connectivity between Odisha and the neighbouring Jharkhand as well as provide long-awaited rail access for the southern districts of the state.
Tatanagar–Puri: Linking Steel City to the Coast
According to plans unveiled earlier this May, the upcoming Tatanagar–Puri Vande Bharat Express will cover a distance of 514 kilometres in just eight hours, reducing the current travel time on the route.
The Indian Railways is planning to operate the semi high-speed train six days a week, excluding Thursdays, with departure from Tatanagar at 6:10 am and arrival in Puri by 2:10 pm. The return leg is scheduled to leave Puri at 2:40 pm and reach Tatanagar by 10:40 pm.
The route will include halts at Jhargram, Ghatsila, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Khordha Road, ensuring a mix of long-distance and regional connectivity.
The train will feature eight modern coaches, a combination of AC Chair Cars and Executive Chair Cars, fitted with upgraded air conditioning, infotainment systems, automatic doors and bio-vacuum toilets.
Jeypore–Bhubaneswar: Southern Odisha on High-Speed Rail Map
In a parallel development, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced that a Jeypore–Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat Express will be launched shortly, following a demand raised by local MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
The train is expected to provide long-pending high-speed connectivity to Koraput and surrounding districts in southern Odisha, which have so far remained outside the Vande Bharat network.
Six Existing Services
Currently, Odisha is served by six Vande Bharat trains, connecting the state to West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. These include the Puri–Howrah Express, Puri–Rourkela Express, Brahmapur–Tatanagar Express, Rourkela–Howrah Express, Bhubaneswar–Visakhapatnam Express, and the Raipur–Visakhapatnam Express (via western Odisha).
Passenger demand has grown sharply, leading to recent expansions, such as the increase of the Puri–Howrah Vande Bharat to 20 coaches earlier this year.
