Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Puri–Rourkela Vande Bharat Express along with eight more such express trains across the country virtually on September 24.

Vande Bharat is India’s first indigenously-developed semi-high speed train and it aims to provide a totally new travel experience to the passengers. Speed, safety and service are the hallmarks of this train.

The Vande Bharat Express offers most comfortable journey with superior world–class features. Connecting some major cities of Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Sambalpur, this train will greatly benefit the pilgrims, traders, students and tourists with a reduced travel time between Puri and Rourkela.

This second Vande Bharat Express will connect the abode of Lord Jagannath, the holy town of Puri, with the Steel City of Rourkela, the Industrial Capital of Odisha. The train will also connect the capital city of Bhubaneswar and industrial areas at Angul and Jharsuguda.

This premium train will offer the fastest rail connectivity between Puri-Rourkela and will run six days a week except Saturday.

The Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance of 505 kms in 7 hours and 45 minutes from Puri to Rourkela. Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express (20836) will depart Puri at 05.00 hrs and will reach Rourkela at 12:45 hrs on same day. In return direction, Rourkela- Puri Vande Bharat Express (20835) will depart Rourkela at 14:10 hrs and will reach Puri at 21.40 hrs on same day.

The train will have stoppages at Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Angul, Rairakhol, Sambalpur City and Jharsuguda.

This Vande Bharat service will reduce the average travel time from Puri to Rourkela as compared to Puri-Yog Nagari Rishikesh Express which takes 11.50 hours and Puri-Hatia Tapaswini Express which takes 10.25 hours, which is the fastest train on this route.

This new Vande Bharat Express train has lot more improved and enhanced amenities and features for the comfort of the passengers. These features were improved and introduced on the basis of feedback taken from the passengers.