Podanur | March 12,2026 | SKY LINK TIMES
PM Modi Flags Off Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday virtually inaugurated several railway services and infrastructure projects from Tiruchirappalli, including the flagship Podanur–Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express, aimed at improving long-distance connectivity between South and Eastern India.
The weekly train will run between Podanur Junction in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and Dhanbad in Jharkhand. The new service is expected to significantly benefit migrant workers, industrial workers, and regular passengers traveling between the two regions.
According to officials, the train will depart from Podanur every Saturday morning and reach Dhanbad on Monday morning. The return journey will begin from Dhanbad on Monday.
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Key Stations and Route Coverage
The Podanur–Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express will connect several important cities across multiple states. Major stations on the route include:
• Salem
• Renigunta
• Vijayawada
• Jharsuguda
• Ranchi
• Bokaro
The train connects key regions in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand, linking major industrial and mining hubs.
Railway officials say this new route will simplify travel for thousands of migrant workers employed in textile and manufacturing centres in Coimbatore and Tiruppur, who previously had to change multiple trains to reach their hometowns in eastern India.
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Modern Features of Amrit Bharat Express
The train has been designed to provide comfortable long-distance travel at affordable fares. According to Salem Division DRM Panna Lal, the service includes several passenger-friendly features.
“The Podanur–Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express is convenient for people travelling between South and North India and is dedicated to serving the public,” he told.
The train uses modern LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches, which are stainless steel coaches manufactured in India for Indian Railways. These coaches offer improved safety and can operate at speeds of up to 160 km/h, while also providing higher passenger capacity.
Other onboard amenities include:
• Cushioned seating even in unreserved coaches
• Charging sockets for passengers
• Improved ventilation systems
• Fire detection systems
• CCTV surveillance
• High-quality toilets
Emergency communication with train crew
The coaches are also about two metres longer than older ICF coaches, providing more space and improved comfort for passengers.
Boost for Connectivity and Economy
The launch of the Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express is part of the government’s broader railway expansion initiatives, including the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
These projects aim to modernise railway infrastructure and strengthen economic and social connectivity across regions. The new train is expected to support migrant workers, improve inter-state travel, and boost trade links between industrial hubs in southern India and mineral-rich regions in eastern India.
Railway authorities believe the service will become a major transport lifeline for thousands of passengers traveling between the two regions every week.
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