Argus News - Dharmendra Pradhan Thanks PM Modi, Vaishnaw for Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express

Bhubaneswar, Mar 10: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the approval of a new Amrit Bharat Express connecting Podanur in Coimbatore with Dhanbad in Jharkhand, highlighting its role in strengthening rail links between Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand.

Thanking PM Modi and Vaishnaw, Pradhan also praised Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for his efforts in facilitating the railway project in the state.

ଓଡିଶା, ତାମିଲନାଡୁ ଏବଂ ଝାଡ଼ଖଣ୍ଡ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ରେଳ ସଂଯୋଗକୁ ଅଧିକ ସୁଦୃଢ଼ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ମୋଦୀ ସରକାର ପୋତ୍ତନୁର (କୋଏମ୍ବାଟୁର୍) ଠାରୁ ଧାନବାଦ୍‌ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଏକ ‘ନୂତନ ଅମୃତ ଭାରତ ଟ୍ରେନ୍’ ମଞ୍ଜୁର କରିଥିବାରୁ ମାନନୀୟ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଏବଂ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ରେଳ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @AshwiniVaishnaw ଙ୍କୁ ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ ଜଣାଉଛି…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) March 10, 2026

The train, set to operate weekly, will run as train number 16619 from Podanur and 16620 from Dhanbad. Departing Podanur every Saturday morning, it will reach Dhanbad on Monday, with the return journey commencing the same day.

Passing through nine key stations in Odisha-Rayagada, Muniguda, Kesinga, Titlagarh, Balangir, Bargarh Road, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Rourkela-the service will benefit seven districts, including the KBK region. It will also link Tamil Nadu’s industrial hubs such as Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Salem with Jharkhand’s key centres including Ranchi, Bokaro, and Dhanbad.

The Amrit Bharat Express aims to provide affordable, high-quality service for passengers from lower and lower-middle income groups. The service will ease travel for students, migrant workers, and traders across southern and eastern India.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Facilitates Two Advanced Ambulances to Sambalpur

Pradhan believes the new service will not only improve social mobility but also strengthen economic ties, boost trade, and generate employment opportunities. He noted that the initiative marks a significant step in Odisha’s development journey, offering new momentum to education, healthcare, and commerce across the region.