Odisha To Get Six New Amrit Bharat Express Trains

14 Jan 2026 CW Team

Indian Railways is set to significantly expand the footprint of the Amrit Bharat Express in Odisha with the introduction of six new services that will pass through several major stations across the state. With this addition, the total number of Amrit Bharat Express trains operating through Odisha will rise to seven.

At present, Odisha is served by a single Amrit Bharat Express on the Berhampur–Udhna (Surat) route. The East Coast Railway said the newly introduced non-air-conditioned sleeper trains are designed to improve passenger comfort through modern LHB coaches, enhanced seating layouts and upgraded onboard amenities.

According to East Coast Railway, the six new Amrit Bharat Express services will operate on the Tambaram–Santragachi, Tiruchirappalli–New Jalpaiguri, Bengaluru–Alipur Duar, Nagercoil–New Jalpaiguri, Bengaluru–Radhikapur and Bengaluru–Balurghat routes.

During their journeys, the trains will halt at key stations in Odisha, including Berhampur, Balugaon, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur–Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak and Balasore, improving regional connectivity and access for passengers across the state.

Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the six new Amrit Bharat Express services on 17 and 18 January. The rollout will also include the launch of two Vande Bharat sleeper train services.

The Amrit Bharat Express features non-air-conditioned sleeper coaches aimed at middle-class passengers seeking affordable long-distance travel. Built with modern LHB technology, the trains offer improved comfort, enhanced safety features and better ventilation. Each trainset is capable of operating at speeds of 110–130 kilometres per hour and runs in a push–pull configuration with locomotives at both ends.

Infrastructure Urban

04 Feb 2026

Public Capex Push In Budget To Boost Tyre Industry: ATMA

The Indian tyre industry is expected to benefit from the government’s renewed emphasis on infrastructure development outlined in the Union Budget 2026–27, according to the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA).ATMA said the tyre sector is closely linked to the performance of the transport and infrastructure ecosystem, and the sharp rise in public capital expenditure to Rs 1.2 trillion is a significant positive for sustained long-term demand growth.The association noted that the enhanced capex allocation reflects the government’s continued focus on building future-ready infrast..

Underground Rail Line Planned In Siliguri ‘Chicken’s Neck’

Indian Railways is planning to construct underground railway tracks along a critical 40 km stretch of the Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the Chicken’s Neck, to strengthen connectivity between the North East and the rest of India while enhancing security preparedness. According to the Indian Railways, the underground section is strategically significant due to the corridor’s narrow geography and proximity to international borders. Chetan Kumar Srivastava, General Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway, said the proposed underground alignment is extremely important from a security..

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Boosts Post-Harvest Assets

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), a Central Sector Scheme of the Government of India, continues to strengthen post-harvest management infrastructure by enabling access to medium- and long-term debt financing through interest-subvented loans. The scheme focuses on improving agri-logistics, reducing post-harvest losses, promoting modern storage, processing and value-addition facilities, and enhancing farm-gate infrastructure to support efficient agricultural supply chains. Under AIF, banks and financial institutions provide loans with an interest subvention of three per cent per annum,..