ODISHA (Metro Rail News): Odisha’s industrial and interstate passenger mobility received a significant dual-track upgrade on Monday, 6th June 2026. Chief Minister Mr. Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw jointly flagged off the newly Brahmapur-Udhna (Surat) Amrit Bharat Express, which marks the upgrade of the service from tri-weekly to daily operation, alongside the brand-new, tri-weekly Puri–Koraput Express.

The Brahmapur–Udhna Amrit Bharat Express connects the “Silk City of Odisha,” Brahmapur (Odisha), to Udhna (Gujarat), a major business hub in Western India. The high-profile launches conducted via synchronized events at the Puri and Brahmapur railway stations are designed to directly scale up interstate labor mobility. 

Meanwhile, the intrastate Puri–Koraput Express connects Puri, one of Odisha’s major pilgrimage sites, to Koraput in the state’s western region. While the Brahmapur–Udhna Amrit Bharat Express runs daily, the Puri–Koraput Express operates three times a week.

This dual launch emphasizes safer, more convenient travel and stronger cultural and economic ties between Odisha and Gujarat, crediting central government support under the “Double Engine” framework for a Viksit Odisha (Developed Odisha) and Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

Brahmapur–Udhna daily Amrit Bharat Express: Inter-State economic corridor 

Amrit Bharat Express from Brahmapur(Odisha)-Udhna (Surat),train no -19021/19022 Connects Brahmapur, Silk city of Odisha to Udhna major business hub of Gujarat via other states such as Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. The Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express operates daily, covering a distance of 1,710 km (1,063 mi) in 30 hours and 15 minutes at an average speed of 56 km/h. The train features a total of 22 coaches, including 11 General Second Class (GS) seating coaches, 8 Sleeper Class (SL) coaches, 2 Second Class-cum-Luggage Vans, and a pantry car, allowing it to accommodate more than 1,800 passengers per trip. It is equipped with modern amenities similar to Vande Bharat standards, such as CCTV cameras in all coaches, fireproof seats, LED display boards, public announcement systems, and ergonomically designed berths. 

The Intra-State anchor: Puri to Koraput Tri-Weekly Express 

The Puri–Koraput Express (Train No. 18407/18408) connects Puri, one of the major pilgrimage sites in Odisha, to Koraput. The tri-weekly train operates three days a week, departing from Puri every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The Puri–Koraput Express features 18 coaches across multiple seating tiers, including 1 AC Two-Tier (2A) coach, 3 AC Three-Tier (3A) coach, 8 Sleeper Class (SL) coaches, 4 General Unreserved (GS) coaches, and 1 Second Class-cum-Luggage Brake Van and 1 Driving-friendly Second Class-Cum Luggage coach. The official capacity of the train is 1,834 passengers per single trip. 

During the function, Union Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Brahmapur Railway Station will be redeveloped into a world-class facility under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at an estimated cost of approximately ₹300 crore. The transformed station will feature state-of-the-art passenger amenities, contemporary architecture, enhanced accessibility, and seamless multimodal integration, positioning it as a landmark gateway for southern Odisha.The minister also inspected the ongoing redevelopment of Puri Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and reviewed comprehensive preparedness for the ongoing Rath Yatra.  He informed that Indian Railways has scheduled the operation of over 300 Special Trains during Rath Yatra, established holding areas for more than 30,000 devotees, augmented ticketing counters, strengthened food distribution mechanisms, and enhanced safety and passenger amenities to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience.

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