The state's first Amrit Bharat train has been inaugurated from Surat. The train connecting Udhna in Surat to Brahmapur in Odisha was flagged off by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi from Odisha by giving a virtual flag off. Thousands of Odisha residents who have settled in Surat for employment have got another option of affordable and comfortable travel in the form of Amrit Bharat train.

Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri CR Patil were present at Udhna Railway Station and joined the Prime Minister's program through video conference. When the Udhna-Brahmapur Amrit Bharat train departed, hundreds of Odisha residents were present at Udhna Railway Station, waved the tricolour and expressed their gratitude to the Union Railway Minister with slogans of 'Jai Jagannath'.

This train connecting Udhna in Surat to Brahmapur in Odisha will be operational regularly from October 5th, for which booking has also started. Common passengers, especially Odisha workers settled in Surat, will experience comfortable travel with affordable fares. It will stop at major stations including Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Badnera, Wardha, Nagpur, Gondia, Raipur, Titlagarh, Rayagada, Vijaynagar.

The Union Railway Minister said that Amrit Bharat Express is a landmark step in the continuous efforts of Indian Railways to provide modern, safe and comfortable travel to the common man. Thousands of Odisha families living in Surat have got direct train connectivity to go to their hometowns during festivals or holidays. The start of the new train will make their travel easier.

Making a special announcement, the Railway Minister said that keeping in mind the sentiments and demands of the local people, public representatives, this weekly train will be started on a daily basis after two months.

The Minister said that the Brahmapur-Udhna-Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express will connect five states of the country. This train will connect important districts of the five states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, thereby strengthening the connectivity between these states. The launch of this train will not only facilitate travel but will also open a new chapter in economic and social development. It will further deepen the people-to-people ties between Surat and Odisha and help in the development of both the regions.

 The present ministers and dignitaries witnessed the live broadcast of the ceremony held in Odisha in the presence of the Prime Minister.

MP Mukeshbhai Dalal, MLA Sangeetaben Patil, Manubhai Patel, Mayor Daksheshbhai Mawani, City Organization President Paresh Patel, General Manager of Western Railway Vivek Kumar Gupta, DRM Pankaj Singh of Mumbai Division of Western Railway and citizens were present on this occasion..

Features of Amrut Bharat Express

* Facilities of 22 coaches including sleeper and general class

* Capacity of more than 1800 passengers

* Speed ​​of 130 km per hour

* CCTV cameras in all coaches, emergency facilities, LED boards

* Train with engines at both ends

* Comfortable, shock-free travel

* Fireproof seats, water bottle stand, charging point, pantry car facilities

Timetable of The Amrit Bharat Express

Gujarat's first Amrit Bharat Express train no. 09021/09022. In which train no. 19021 Udhna-Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express will depart from Udhna every Sunday, while the return journey train no. 19022 Brahmapur-Udhna Amrit Bharat Express will depart every Monday. In which the fare for general coach is Rs. 495 and for sleeper coach Rs. 795.