Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off, through video-conferencing, nine Vande Bharat trains connecting religious and tourist destinations across 11 states, including Odisha, at 12.30 pm on Sunday.
According to PMO statement, the introduction of these Vande Bharat trains, which will take the total number of these semi high-speed trains to 34, will herald a new standard of rail service in the country and these trains will be equipped with world-class amenities and advanced safety features, including Kavach technology.
Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will attend a function being organised at Bhubaneswar railway station on the occasion, which will see launch of the second Vande Bharat Express for Odisha on Puri-Rourkela route. Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan along with other MPs and MLAs will also be present, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) informed.
The Railway has also launched a contest in which people can win exclusive merchandise by capturing the train at their nearest station.
Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express, connecting the abode of Lord Jagannath in the pilgrim town of Puri with the Steel City Rourkela and state capital Bhubaneswar, Industrial Area at Angul and Jharsuguda en route, will be faster by about 3 hours.
It will reduce 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, the ECoR said.
TIMING
Train No.20836 Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express will depart Puri at 5 am and will reach Rourkela at 12.45 pm the same day, covering a distance of 505 kms in 7 hours and 45 minutes. In return direction, 20835 Rourkela- Puri Vande Bharat Express will depart Rourkela at 2:10 pm and will reach Puri at 9.40 pm the same day.
It will run six days a week except Saturdays.
STOPPAGES
The train will halt at Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Angul, Rairakhol, Sambalpur City and Jharsuguda.
FARE
The fare of Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express in both the class – AC Chair Car and Executive AC Chair Car, is likely to be between Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000.
The ECoR further said that 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 the 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,” it added.
The first Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah was flagged off on May 18.
