Odisha CM, Vaishnaw review preparations for annual Rath Yatra in Puri
Brahmapur, July 6
A daily service of Amrit Bharat Express between Brahmapur and Surat was launched on Monday, and a daytime rail service between Puri and Koraput has commenced, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.
Speaking to reporters in Brahmapur, Vaishwanw said there was already a night service from Puri to Koraput, but there had long been a demand for a daytime service--specifically one that would connect the entire southern and western regions of Odisha--and that service has now commenced.
"Additionally, the Amrit Bharat Express, a daily service between Brahmapur and Surat, was launched today. Given the long-standing economic and cultural ties between Ganjam district and Surat, there had been a persistent demand for this train, which has now been fulfilled. Station construction is also progressing excellently," he said.
"I inspected the Puri station today; it has turned out to be magnificent, featuring architecture inspired by the style associated with Lord Jagannath. Other stations are also being developed beautifully," he added.
The Railway Minister also talked about facilities for convenience of devotees coming to attend Rath Yatra.
Vaishnaw and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the preparedness ahead of the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. They flagged off the Puri-Koraput train at Puri railway station earlier today.
"Devotees from across the globe attend the holy Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, and the Railways is making special arrangements for them. This time, holding areas are being set up to comfortably accommodate around 30,000 passengers," he said.
"Facilities include high-quality toilets and ticket counters arranged in a zigzag layout to prevent congestion and ensure a smooth flow of people. There will be a control room, coordination between the civil police and railway police, and the operation of over 300 special trains alongside more than 800 regular trains--bringing the total to over 1,100 trains," he added.
Vaishnaw inspected the Brahmapur and Puri stations during his Odisha visit.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The Rath Yatra arrangements sound impressive—300 special trains plus 800 regular ones is no joke. But I hope the zigzag queue system for ticket counters actually works in practice. In India, we often have good plans but poor execution. Let's see if the holding areas for 30,000 passengers are well-maintained with drinking water and shade.
As someone who travels from Mumbai to Odisha often, these new trains are a blessing. The Puri station's Jagannath-style architecture sounds beautiful—wish we could see more cultural themes in our railway stations across India. Good work by the Ministry. 👌
Vaishnaw ji and Majhi ji reviewing Rath Yatra prep together shows good coordination. But I'm concerned about crowd management during the festival—1,100 trains is a lot, but Puri gets insanely crowded. Hope the control room and police coordination are top-notch. Safety first!
The economic ties between Ganjam and Surat are strong—many Odia migrants work in Surat's textile industry. This daily Amrit Bharat Express will be a lifeline for thousands of families. Hope the fares are kept reasonable for the common man. Good step forward. 👍
It's nice to see new trains and station beautification, but I wish the Railways would also focus on basic things like cleanliness on trains and better food options. The Puri-Koraput day service is a good start, but what about connectivity to other remote parts of Odisha? Still a long way to go.
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