Bhubaneswar, May 13: A new Express Train is soon going to join Odisha’s shrine city Puri with Koraput.

The Ministry of Railway on Wednesday approved it in order to providing a faster and more efficient mode of transport a bridging East & South Odisha across the Western region.

With the resolve of the Ministry of Railways, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Lauding Vaishnaw’s vision, the Chief Minister mentioned that the propsed Puri-Koraput Express will strengthen the rail link between Puri, Sambalpur, and Koraput, offering better access for common men especially the devotees traveling to the Shree Jagannath Dham.

The new express train will operate three days a week. Train number 18407 will run from Puri to Koraput on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while the down train bearing number 18408 will depart from Koraput to Puri on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The train will make stops at 19 stations along the way, including Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Naranpur-Marthapur, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Anugul, Bainda, Redakhol, Sambalpur, Bargad Road, Bolangir, Titlagad, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Tikiri, Lakshmipur Road, Kikriguma, and Damanjodi.