Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to virtually flag off Odisha’s first Vande Bharat Express from Puri railway station around 1 pm on Thursday.
According to ECoR sources, Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and local MP Pinaki Mishra and MLA Jayanta Kumar Sarangi will be present at the launch event at Puri railway station. The programme will begin at 9 am and PM Modi will join through video conferencing around 12 noon.
The regular run of the semi high-speed train with 16 coaches will commence from May 20. The service will be available six days a week, except Thursdays, and it will have seven stoppages – Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Khurda Road – between Puri and Howrah. It will halt at these stations for two minutes only, the sources said.
TIMINGS
The train will leave Howrah at 6.10 am and arrive at Puri at 12.35 pm. In return direction, it will depart from Puri at 1.50 pm and reach Howrah at 8.30 pm.
According to South Eastern Railway, booking of passengers for 22895 Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express will be available through online and offline mode from May 17. The passengers can visit the official website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) or app to reserve their seats or book their ticket from Passenger Reservation System (PRS).
FARE
AC Chair Car (CC)
- Howrah to Puri – Rs 1,265 catering charge of Rs 162
- Howrah to Khurda Road Junction – Rs 1,155
- Howrah to Bhubaneswar – Rs 1,125
- Howrah to Cuttack – Rs 1,095
- Howrah to Jajpur K Road – Rs 975
- Howrah to Bhadrak – Rs 910
- Howrah to Balasore – Rs 805
- Howrah to Kharagpur – Rs 605
Executive Chair Car (EC)
Howrah to Puri – Rs 2,420 including catering charge of Rs 195
Howrah to Khurda Road Junction – Rs 2,190
Howrah to Bhubaneswar – Rs 2,130
Howrah to Cuttack – Rs 2,065
Howrah to Jajpur K Road – Rs 1,810
Howrah to Bhadrak – Rs 1,690
Howrah to Balasore – Rs 1,480
Howrah to Kharagpur – Rs 1,075
CATERING CHARGES
The food choice is optional on this train. If anyone opts for the No Food Option, catering charges will be deducted from the fare.
On April 28, the Indian Railways conducted a trial run of the train between Howrah and Puri. When operational, it will be the first Vande Bharat service for Odisha and the second for West Bengal.
