Puri-Badampahar Express: New Daily Train Approved!
The Ministry of Railways has officially sanctioned a new daily direct service, the Puri-Badampahar Express (Train No. 18411/18412). This new route will provide vital connectivity between the coastal city of Puri and Badampahar, which is the native village of President Droupadi Murmu.
The Railway Board issued the formal approval on October 19, 2026, following efforts to improve rail access in the Mayurbhanj district. Sanjay R. Neelam, Director (Coaching) of the Railway Board, has instructed the General Managers of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and the South Eastern Railway (SER) to begin all necessary preparations for the service.
Enhanced Connectivity for Odisha and Kolhan
Designed to strengthen transit between Odisha and the Kolhan region, the train will benefit travelers from areas such as Jamshedpur, Rairangpur, and Chaibasa. The service will utilize nine modern LHB coaches to ensure a comfortable journey for passengers.
The train will traverse a route including 19 key stations:
- Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Mancheswar, Cuttack, and Jakhapura
- Sukinda Road, Harichandanpur, Kendujhar, Nayagarh, and Banspani
- Deojhar, Dangoaposi, Jhinkpani, and Chaibasa
- Rajkharsawan, Sini, Tatanagar, Aunlajori, and Rairangpur
Train Timings and Schedule
The approved schedule for the two new daily services is as follows:
Puri-Badampahar Express (18411):
- Departure from Puri: 11:45 PM
- Arrival at Tatanagar: 11:30 AM (following day)
- Arrival at Badampahar: 1:45 PM
Badampahar-Puri Express (18412):
- Departure from Badampahar: 4:00 PM
- Arrival at Tatanagar: 5:55 PM
- Arrival at Puri: 6:00 AM (following day)
While the Ministry has granted formal approval and directed the respective railway zones to finalize operational logistics, the official date for the inaugural and regular service has not yet been announced.