PM Modi Flags Off Odisha's First Vande Bharat Express Between Puri And Howrah

Prime Minister Narendra on Thursday (18 May) virtually flagged off Odisha's first Vande Bharat Express connecting Puri to Howrah.

The train will pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore districts in Odisha and Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal, according to a PMO release.

The super fast train will provide faster, comfortable and convenient travel experience to the rail users, boost tourism and promote economic development in the region.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will attend the event.

The first full trial run of the train was conducted on 28 April with the train leaving Howrah at 6:10 am and arriving in Puri at 12:35 pm.

It departed Puri at 1:50 pm and reached Howrah at 8:30 pm on the return trip. During the trial run, the train was only permitted to go at a top speed of 130 km per hour

The Vande Bharat Express demonstrated its efficiency and speed during the trial run by covering 500 kilometres in just 6 hours and 25 minutes.

Given the influx of pilgrims and tourists to Puri sea beach, Jagannath Temple, the World Heritage Site at Konark, and Chilika Lagoon, the operation of Vande Bharat service will serve the purpose.

With the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express, Bengal will have two Vande Bharat trains. The other one is the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri service, launched on 30 December 2022.