Odisha received a major rail connectivity boost on July 6, 2026, as Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off two new train services simultaneously. The inaugural events were held at Brahmapur and Puri railway stations, where Vaishnaw and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi jointly launched the Puri-Koraput Express from Puri station at 12 noon and the Brahmapur-Surat Amrit Bharat Express from Brahmapur station at 4 pm. According to PTI, these new trains are expected to improve travel options for passengers and strengthen connectivity between different regions of Odisha as well as with Gujarat.
The Puri-Koraput Express (Train Nos. 18407/18408) will operate as a weekly service running on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Puri and Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from Koraput. The train will pass through Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Naraj, Marthapur, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Angul, Boinda, Rairakhol, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Tikiri, Laxmipur Road, Kakiriguma and Damanjodi before reaching Koraput. During its regular service, train number 18407 will depart from Puri at 7 am and arrive at Koraput at 11:30 pm, while train number 18408 will leave Koraput at 5 am and reach Puri at 10:20 pm. The service is expected to strengthen connectivity between Odisha's coastal districts and the southern part of the state, making travel easier for passengers, students, workers and tourists travelling between these regions while improving access to southern Odisha and providing better transport options for residents.
The Brahmapur-Surat (Udhna) Amrit Bharat Express will operate as a daily service providing a direct rail connection between southern Odisha and Surat in Gujarat. According to PTI, this new train is expected to benefit passengers travelling to Gujarat for work, business and other purposes while offering a more convenient travel option by reducing the need to change trains on the route. The service is expected to support economic activity, tourism and easier movement of people between Odisha and Gujarat.
The chief minister announced that Puri railway station is being redeveloped at a cost of ₹184 crore to provide a better experience to pilgrims visiting the temple town from across the country. As reported by Business Standard, Majhi also requested Vaishnaw to introduce a similar train service from north Odisha, to which the railway minister responded immediately by announcing that a new train connecting north Odisha with Puri would be introduced soon. According to Vaishnaw's announcement reported by Business Standard, the BJP has promised investments of ₹1 lakh-crore in Odisha's railway sector over five years, and around ₹97,000 crore had already been invested in the state during the past two years.
According to Vaishnaw's statement reported by Business Standard, there had been a long-standing demand for a train connecting coastal Odisha with the western and southern parts of the state during the daytime. The minister explained that only the Hirakhand Express runs from Bhubaneswar to Koraput, and that too at night, creating demand for a daytime train service. The new Puri-Koraput Express will pass through Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Naraj, Marthapur, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Angul, Boinda, Rairakhol, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Tikiri, Laxmipur Road, Kakiriguma and Damanjodi before reaching Koraput. As reported by East Coast Railway, the introduction of the Puri-Koraput Express fulfils the long-standing aspiration of people by providing direct rail connectivity between the holy city of Puri and the tribal heartland of Koraput, benefiting pilgrims, tourists, students, patients, traders, and local residents by improving access to religious destinations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and commercial centres across the state.
