Indian Railways has officially approved the conversion of the Bhubaneswar-Dhanbad and Puri-Patna special trains into regular Express services. This decision, finalized on March 12, 2026, ends the uncertainty of periodic extensions for these routes. Passengers traveling between Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar will now benefit from reduced ticket prices as the special fare surcharge has been removed. The move comes after discussions between Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to improve regional rail connectivity.
New Train Numbers and Timings
With the transition to regular express status, the train numbers have been updated from the special series to the regular series on railway inquiry platforms. Here are the updated details of the services:
- Bhubaneswar-Dhanbad Express (18403 / 18404): This train will run daily. Train 18403 leaves Bhubaneswar at 08:25 PM and reaches Dhanbad at 11:00 AM the next day. The return train (18404) departs Dhanbad at 04:00 PM and arrives in Bhubaneswar at 07:45 AM. Major stops include Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur City, and Rourkela.
- Puri-Patna Express (18405 / 18406): This weekly service operates with Train 18405 leaving Puri on Saturdays at 02:55 PM, reaching Patna at 10:45 AM on Sundays. The return journey (18406) starts from Patna on Sundays at 01:30 PM, reaching Puri at 09:45 AM on Mondays. Stops include Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, and Balasore.
Impact on Fares and Ticket Booking
The most significant relief for passengers is the reduction in travel costs. Earlier, these trains operated under the special fare category, which usually includes a premium surcharge. Now, standard Express fares will apply to all classes.
For the Bhubaneswar-Dhanbad route, indicative regular fares are around Rs 525 for Sleeper class, Rs 1470 for 3AC, and Rs 2040 for 2AC. Similarly, the Puri-Patna route will cost approximately Rs 465 for Sleeper, Rs 1225 for 3AC, and Rs 1735 for 2AC.
Passengers can now book tickets using standard reservation quotas. This means General, Tatkal, and Senior Citizen quotas are available for these trains on the IRCTC platform and at standard reservation counters.
Official Statements and Regional Benefit
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the decision was finalized to prioritize public convenience and strengthen long-term rail connectivity in the region. The formal communication was recently shared with the Odisha state government.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his gratitude to the central government. He noted that regularizing these long-distance trains will significantly boost passenger mobility, support regional tourism, and aid in the overall economic development of the state.
