It connects three metropolitan cities of India, Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam.

It also runs via some major cities of India like Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, etc.

It was the first passenger train to be dieselized on the South Eastern Railway in 1964–65.

Till the introduction of the Coromandel Express in the mid-seventies, it was the main and fastest train link between Howrah and Chennai (then Madras), with much fewer halts.

It covers 1,664 km (1,034 mi) at an average speed of 59 km/h (37 mph) Important stations through which it passes are Kharagpur Junction, Balasore, Cuttack Junction, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road Junction, Berhampur, Naupada, Srikakulam Road railway station , Vizianagaram Jn,