Bhubaneswar, 05 July (H.S.): The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced the inauguration of two new express train services on July 6, 2026, aimed at enhancing both intra-state and inter-state rail connectivity.
According to an official notification issued by the Office of the Chief Public Relations Officer, the Railway Ministry will flag off the inaugural runs of the Brahmapur–Surat (Udhna) Amrit Bharat Express and the Puri–Koraput Express in separate ceremonies on Monday.
The Brahmapur–Surat (Udhna) Amrit Bharat Express, a daily service, will be flagged off at 4:00 PM from Brahmapur Railway Station. The inaugural ceremony will be attended by Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The new service is expected to significantly improve long-distance rail connectivity between southern Odisha and Gujarat.
Earlier in the day, at 12:00 noon, the Puri–Koraput Express will be inaugurated from Puri Railway Station. The train is designed to strengthen intra-state connectivity by linking key regions across Odisha, including Khordha Road, Bhubaneswar, Angul, Sambalpur, Balangir, and stations in the Koraput region such as Damanjodi and Lakshmipur Road.
Officials said the inaugural runs will be ceremonially welcomed at multiple stations along the route, underscoring the train’s importance in improving regional mobility and passenger convenience across the state.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
