PM launches Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express: Fares, timings and route - all you need to know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express and inaugurated the 15th Vande Bharat Express in the country.

It is a gift to the people of Odisha and West Bengal, PM Modi said. It will create new employment opportunities for our youth and reduce travel time for pilgrims from West Bengal to Puri and people with jobs in West Bengal.

While congratulating the people for the progress made in Odisha's railway network, the Prime Minister added that Vande Bharat trains are the engine for the development of the country and promote the idea of ​​Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat. These rakes connect destinations across the country together.

India currently has 15 Vande Bharat Express trains that provide impetus to the development of the Indian economy. Vande Bharat trains touch every corner of the country from North to South and East to West. It is an initiative that includes the remote corners of the country. It is a symbol of the reach of new technology and convenience across the country, PM Modi said.

Route
The Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express will have seven stops between the two termini:

Khurda Road Junction
Bhubaneswar
Rust
Jaipur K Road
Bhadrak
Balasore
Kharagpur

Fare
Vande Bharat Express fare from Puri to Howrah costs Rs 1,610 per AC Chair Car segment seat. An Executive Chair car fare costs Rs 2,420 from Puri. Howrah to Puri train tickets cost Rs 1,265 per seat for AC Chair Car category and Rs 2,420 per seat for Executive Chair Car category.

Timing
Vande Bharat Express departs Howrah Junction at 6:10 AM and reaches Puri at 12:35 PM. On the return journey, the train departs from Puri at 1:50 PM and reaches Horwah at 8:30 PM. In this way, travelers can plan a trip from Howrah to Puri and back on the same day.

Promotion of tourism and trade
The train cuts travel time by one hour and 20 minutes. The train is expected to boost religious tourism and provide access to Jagannath Temple, Konark Sun Temple, Puri Beaches and Chilika Lake, which is Asia's largest brackish water lake. Vande Bharat Express also provides business opportunities. Local crafts are expected to get a boost from the increased number of visitors.

The art forms of Odisha can be rediscovered by the visiting tourists, according to the Prime Minister.