Odisha: Railways to run over 300 special trains for Ratha Yatra
Bhubaneswar, July 6
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Monday reviewed Indian Railways' preparations for the upcoming annual Ratha Yatra in the holy coastal town of Puri to ensure safe, seamless and comfortable travel for the lakhs of devotees expected during the festival.
During the review, the railway minister took stock of arrangements for crowd management, passenger movement, and operational preparedness. Senior railway officials and the local administration briefed him on the integrated arrangements and the detailed operational plan put in place for the smooth conduct of the annual festival.
Officials informed the meeting that Indian Railways is planning to operate more than 300 special trains for the Ratha Yatra, which is expected to witness lakhs of devotees.
Holding areas with a capacity to accommodate more than 30,000 devotees have also been planned in Puri. Additional passenger amenities, including food arrangements and extra ticket counters, are also being put in place.
Vaishnaw also inspected passenger facilities and other amenities at the railway station. He reviewed measures aimed at improving passenger convenience, strengthening safety arrangements and ensuring efficient railway operations during the Ratha Yatra.
The review was conducted in coordination with the Odisha Government as part of efforts to ensure seamless railway operations, effective crowd management and a safe and comfortable travel experience for devotees during the annual festival.
On the other hand, Majhi on Monday chaired a high-level special review meeting for the upcoming Ratha Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on July 16.
During the meeting, Majhi stressed the importance of maintaining effective coordination among officials and staff to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that every official would discharge his or her duties with sincerity, considering the responsibility as a sacred service carried out under the command of Lord Jagannath.
He also underscored that extensive police deployment has been made for security and crowd management during the Ratha Yatra festival.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's reassuring to see the *Rail Mantri* and CM personally reviewing the arrangements. The coordination between the Central and State governments is crucial for a festival of this scale. I just hope the extra ticket counters actually function properly and don't become another source of chaos.
Good planning, but the real challenge is execution. Every year we hear of some hiccups. Hope the crowd management is top-notch this year. The CM's emphasis on "sacred service" is the right spirit for such a holy event.
It's impressive how the Indian Railways can mobilize over 300 special trains for a religious event. Must be a logistical nightmare. Kudos to the officials for their dedication. I hope the food arrangements are hygienic and accessible for all.
This is a classic case of 'preparation before devotion.' Very happy to see the Union Minister and CM working together. Puri station needs a massive upgrade though, even for regular days! 😅 Hope the extra amenities help this time. Jai Jagannath!
30,000 capacity holding areas? That's a small city in itself! Let's hope the police deployment is effective and not just for show. The CM calling it a 'sacred service' under Lord Jagannath really puts the onus on all officials to perform well.
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