New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off Puri–Rourkela, the Second Vande Bharat Express for the people of Odisha through video conferencing from New Delhi during a function to be held at Bhubaneswar railway station on 24 September, 2023.
Shri Modi said that there is lot of craze for Vande Bharat Trains and more than 1.11 Crore people have already availed the services.
PM said entire country will be connected with Vande Bharat Trains and people are loving to utilize the servises of fastest moving trains.
Governor Ganeshi Lal, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Leader of Opposition Jai Narayan Mishra, MPs, MLAs and other dignitaries were present.
This Second Vande Bharat Express connects the abode of Lord Jagannath, the Holy City of Puri with the Steel City Rourkela (the Industrial Capital of Odisha) and will also connect Capital City Bhubaneswar, Industrial Area at Angul and Jharsuguda enroute.
This premium service offers the fastest rail connectivity between Puri-Rourkela and will run six days a week except Saturday.
The Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance of 505 kms in 7 hours and 45 minutes from Puri to Rourkela.
Train No.20836 Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express will depart Puri at 05.00 hrs and will reach Rourkela at 12:45 hrs on same day. In return direction, 20835 Rourkela- Puri Vande Bharat Express will depart Rourkela at 14:10 hrs and will reach Puri at 21.40 hrs on same day.
The train will have stoppages at Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Angul, Rairakhol, Sambalpur City and Jharsuguda enroute.
This Vande Bharat service reduces the average travel time from Puri–Rourkela as compared to Puri-Yog Nagari Rishikesh Express which takes 11.50 hours and Puri-Hatia Tapaswini Express which takes 10.25 hours, which is the fastest train in this route.
This new Vande Bharat Express train has lot more improved and enhanced amenities and features for the comfort of the passengers. These features were improved and introduced based on the feedback taken from the passengers.
This will also connect Coastal Central and Western Odisha Districts and fulfil the dreams of people of coastal and western Odisha regions to have a luxurious, comfortable, smooth, safe train ride while counting on reduced journey time. This train will greatly benefit the pilgrims, traders, students and tourists with a reduced travel time between Puri and Rourkela.
