RAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Durg-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express via video conferencing on Monday.
This semi-high-speed train will be the second Vande Bharat Express to operate in Chhattisgarh, following the Bilaspur-Nagpur route.
The train will run on a special schedule on its inaugural day, departing from Raipur station, with regular services commencing from Durg on September 20.
The Durg-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities. While conventional trains typically take 12 to 14 hours to cover this distance, the Vande Bharat Express, with its faster speed, could potentially complete the journey in approximately 8 to 9 hours, subject to the final schedule and stoppages.
Starting from September 20, the Durg-Visakhapatnam-Durg Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 20829/20830) will operate six days a week, except on Thursdays, from both ends. The train will consist of 16 coaches and will have seven stoppages between the origin and the destination, including Raipur, Mahasamund, Khariar Road, Kantabanji, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Raigada, and Vijaynagaram.
The 20829 Durg-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Train will depart from Durg at 5.45 am and reach Visakhapatnam at 13.45 on the same day. Similarly, the 20830 Visakhapatnam-Durg Vande Bharat Train will depart from Visakhapatnam at 14.50 and arrive at Durg at 22.50.
The introduction of the Durg-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express is a significant milestone in enhancing rail connectivity between Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
This train will provide faster, more comfortable, and efficient travel options for passengers traveling between the two states.
The train’s advanced features, such as executive class and chair car seating, onboard infotainment, automated doors, and the indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (Kavach), ensure a superior travel experience and enhanced safety.
The Durg-Visakhapatnam route is a crucial economic and cultural corridor, connecting the industrial hubs of Chhattisgarh to the port city of Visakhapatnam.
The faster transit between key cities is expected to boost tourism, trade, and overall connectivity, promoting regional economic development and improving the travel experience for passengers from both states.
Chhattisgarh is already benefiting from the operation of the Bilaspur-Nagpur Vande Bharat Express, which connects Bilaspur Junction in Chhattisgarh to Nagpur Junction in Maharashtra. This train runs six days a week, with no service on Saturdays, enhancing connectivity between major cities in central India.
