Indian Railways has opened a new chapter for Odisha’s rail connectivity by launching two services on Monday, adding both reach and frequency where demand has long outpaced supply. A daily Amrit Bharat Express to Surat and a Puri-Koraput Express are at the heart of the push.
Officials said the inaugural ceremonies will be held at Puri and Brahmapur, with Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in attendance. The East Coast Railway will operate and maintain the intra-state service.
What is launching today
To clarify the day’s key moves, here are the essentials:
– Brahmapur-Surat (Udhna) Amrit Bharat Express, daily; flagged off at 4 pm from Brahmapur
– Puri-Koraput Express inaugural run; regular tri-weekly service in both directions
According to the East Coast Railway, the Puri-Koraput Express will be flagged off from Puri station at noon. The new daily Amrit Bharat Express creates a direct southern Odisha to Gujarat link, aimed at passengers heading to India’s western region.
Why this matters for Odisha’s rail map
The Puri-Koraput Express is positioned to unlock intra-state mobility by connecting the coastal belt with southern Odisha. The zonal railway said the service fulfils a long-standing aspiration for direct connectivity between the holy city of Puri and the tribal heartland of Koraput.
In a statement, the East Coast Railway added the train will benefit pilgrims, tourists, students, patients, traders, and local residents by improving access to religious destinations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and commercial centres across the state. The move balances tourism flows with everyday travel needs.
The Brahmapur-Surat (Udhna) Amrit Bharat Express tackles a different gap. As a daily service flagged off at 4 pm from Brahmapur, it strengthens long-distance connectivity between southern Odisha and Gujarat, providing a direct rail link for passengers travelling to the western region.
Timings, frequency and train numbers
During its regular service, train number 18407 will depart from Puri at 7 am and arrive at Koraput at 11:30 pm. On the return journey, train number 18408 will leave Koraput at 5 am and reach Puri at 10:20 pm.
The Puri-Koraput Express will run from Puri on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and from Koraput on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Monday’s inaugural service will run as train number 18407/18408.
The Railway Board approved the introduction of train number 18407/18408 Puri-Koraput-Puri Express on May 13, 2026, clearing the administrative path for today’s launch.
Route and station coverage
The Puri-Koraput Express links the coast to the interior by passing through key stations, including Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Angul, Sambalpur, Balangir and Damanjodi before terminating at Koraput. This east-west sweep knits together major population and logistics nodes.
Beyond the mainline, the service will halt at Naraj, Marthapur, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Boinda, Rairakhol, Bargarh Road, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Tikiri and Kakiriguma. The spread of stops indicates an emphasis on both regional access and last-mile reach.
The competitive angle and what comes next
The twin launches carve out a clearer split in the network’s role: daily inter-state movement via the Amrit Bharat Express, and a targeted, tri-weekly intra-state corridor connecting Puri with Koraput. Together, they address distinct demand pools rather than overlapping them.
For the East Coast Railway, the approach tightens Odisha’s internal grid while anchoring a direct western corridor through Brahmapur. With the political leadership present at the launch, attention now shifts to punctuality, capacity utilisation and passenger response in the first weeks.
