Bhubaneswar railway station (station code: BBS) is a major railway station serving the city of Bhubaneswar, the capital of the Indian state of Odisha. It lies on the Howrah–Chennai main line and functions as one of the principal rail hubs of eastern India. The station is administered by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone of Indian Railways and falls under the Khurda Road railway division.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Station name | Bhubaneswar |
| Station code | BBS |
| Location | Bhubaneswar, Khordha district, Odisha, India |
| Owner | Indian Railways |
| Operated by | East Coast Railway zone |
| Division | Khurda Road |
| Line | Howrah–Chennai main line |
| Electrified | Yes |
Overview
The station serves as the gateway to Bhubaneswar and the nearby temple city of Puri, and is connected by direct services to most major Indian cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. It is one of the busiest stations in the East Coast Railway zone in terms of both passenger footfall and originating traffic.
Background and location
Bhubaneswar railway station is situated in the central part of the city, with road links to the Master Canteen area, Rajpath and Cuttack–Puri Road. The nearby Khurda Road Junction serves as the divisional headquarters and acts as a major junction point from which lines branch to Puri and towards southern Odisha. The station is located close to Biju Patnaik International Airport.
History
Rail connectivity to the region developed as part of the East Coast State Railway during the late nineteenth century, when the line linking Cuttack and the southern districts was extended along the eastern seaboard. Bhubaneswar grew in importance after it was made the capital of Odisha in 1948, and the station expanded in subsequent decades to handle increasing traffic. Following the formation of the East Coast Railway zone in 2003, with its headquarters at Bhubaneswar, the station's administrative significance increased further.
Facilities
- Multiple platforms with foot overbridges and escalators on selected platforms.
- Computerised passenger reservation system and unreserved ticketing counters.
- Waiting rooms, retiring rooms and dormitory accommodation for passengers.
- Catering, book stalls, ATMs and Wi-Fi connectivity provided through RailTel.
- Parking facilities and prepaid taxi/auto stands at the station forecourt.
Services
The station handles a mix of long-distance superfast, mail/express, intercity and passenger trains. Notable services that originate from or pass through Bhubaneswar include the Rajdhani Express to New Delhi, the Vande Bharat Express to Howrah, the Falaknuma Express, the Coromandel Express, the Konark Express and several Shatabdi-class and Duronto-class services. The station also serves as the originating terminus for a number of trains to destinations across India.
Significance
As the principal station of the state capital and the headquarters city of the East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar is central to passenger movement in coastal Odisha. It plays a key role in tourist traffic to Jagannath Temple, Puri, the Konark Sun Temple and the temples of Bhubaneswar itself. The station has also been identified for redevelopment under Indian Railways' station modernisation initiatives.
Related topics
- East Coast Railway zone
- Khurda Road railway division
- Howrah–Chennai main line
- Bhubaneswar
- Cuttack railway station
- Puri railway station
- Indian Railways
References
- East Coast Railway, Indian Railways – official zonal information.
- Indian Railways public timetable (Trains at a Glance).
- Wikidata entry: Q4902094.