To accommodate the surge in passenger travel during the upcoming Durga Puja and Diwali festivals, railway authorities have announced the operation of additional Puja Special Trains on key routes connecting Odisha and West Bengal.
The special services aim to clear the extra rush and provide comfortable journeys for festival-bound commuters between October and November 2026.
Puri–Santragachi–Puri Puja Special (Train Nos. 08405 / 08406)
The Puri–Santragachi Puja Special (Train No. 08405) will operate every Monday from October 5 to October 26, 2026. The train departs Puri at 17:45 hrs and arrives in Santragachi at 03:45 hrs the following morning.
On its return trip, the Santragachi–Puri Puja Special (Train No. 08046) will run every Tuesday from October 6 to October 27, 2026, leaving Santragachi at 08:45 hrs and reaching Puri at 19:00 hrs the same day.
- Stoppages: Sakhigopal, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Baleshwar, Rupsa, Jaleswar, Belda, and Kharagpur.
- Coach Composition: Modern 18-coach LHB rake comprising 1 AC 2-Tier, 3 AC 3-Tier, 8 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, and 2 Luggage-cum-Generator Vans equipped with Divyang-friendly facilities.
Shalimar–Khurda Road–Shalimar Puja Special (Train Nos. 08043 / 08044)
Connecting West Bengal directly with key towns in Odisha, Train No. 08043 (Shalimar–Khurda Road) will run every Monday from October 12 to November 9, 2026. Departing Shalimar at 17:55 hrs, the train reaches Khurda Road at 02:45 hrs the following morning.
The return service, Train No. 08044 (Khurda Road–Shalimar), will operate every Tuesday from October 13 to November 10, 2026, leaving Khurda Road at 06:45 hrs and arriving in Shalimar at 15:00 hrs.
- Stoppages: Santragachi, Kharagpur, Baleshwar, Rupsa Jn., Bhadrak, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar.
- Coach Composition: 22 ICF coaches featuring 2 AC 2-Tier, 6 AC 3-Tier, 8 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, and 2 Luggage/Brake Vans with accessible features for Divyangjan passengers.
Travel Advisory
Passengers planning their trips during the festive period are advised to verify schedules and book seats early. Updated train status, platform details, and booking information are available via the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) website, official railway mobile apps, or designated railway enquiry counters.
