Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off Odisha’s Railway Renaissance
Bhubaneswar, May 14, 2026: Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw today highlighted major railway infrastructure and connectivity initiatives being undertaken across Odisha under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Announcing the introduction of the new 18407/18408 Puri–Koraput–Puri Tri-Weekly Express, Shri Vaishnaw said the service will, for the first time, provide direct rail connectivity between Puri and large parts of western and southern Odisha.
The train will operate via Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Angul, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Tikiri, Laxmipur Road, Kakiriguma and Damanjodi, significantly benefiting passengers from coastal, western and southern Odisha.
The service will improve connectivity for pilgrimage, tourism, education, healthcare, employment and business travel, particularly for the KBK region and tribal-dominated districts.
