Bhubaneswar: In a move that is set to affect thousands of passengers travelling between Odisha and the national capital, Puri–New Delhi Purushottam Express (Train No. 12801/12802) will now terminate and originate from Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT) instead of New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS).
Sources said the modification, issued by the Railway Board on June 12, is part of a broader effort to decongest New Delhi station, which handles over five lakh passengers daily across 16 platforms and approximately 350 trains.
As per the revised schedule stated by Indian Railways, Purushottam Express will arrive at Anand Vihar Terminal at 3.50 am, 10 minutes earlier than its current 4 am arrival at New Delhi Railway Station.
Similarly, the departure timing from the capital is now set for 10.50 pm, against the previous 10.40 pm departure from New Delhi station.
While the train’s start and end points are shifting, the route and halt stations remain unchanged.
The express continues to cover a 30-hour journey from Puri, stopping at 33 major stations, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Tatanagar, Bokaro Steel City, Gaya, Prayagraj, and Kanpur Central.
The primary reason behind the relocation is reported to be due to the upcoming redevelopment of New Delhi Railway Station, a massive infrastructure project aiming to modernise one of India’s busiest rail hubs.
As such, railway officials believe the rerouting will not only ease the load on New Delhi station but also improve operational efficiency, turnaround times, and security.
Apart from Purushottam Express, at least six other trains running on the busy Howrah and Mumbai routes will also be redirected to Anand Vihar Terminal, including the New Delhi–New Jalpaiguri Superfast Express (12523/12524).
