315 Special Trains Announced for Puri Rath Yatra

Bhubaneswar: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Friday that a total of 315 special trains will be operated for the Rath Yatra at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri. This decision was made following discussions with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his deputies, KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, during their visit to Delhi.

Vaishnaw highlighted that the number of special trains this year exceeds previous years, with services covering various destinations across Odisha. These trains will operate from July 6 to July 19, facilitating travel to and from Puri for the Rath Yatra pilgrims. Additionally, arrangements will include tent accommodations for approximately 15,000 devotees.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has confirmed the inclusion of special trains from locations like Badampahad, Rourkela, Balasore, Sonepur, and Daspalla for the Rath Yatra period. These trains are scheduled not only for the main Rath Yatra but also for events like Gundicha Yatra, Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha, and Adharapana Festival.

To ensure convenience, reserved class accommodations will be available on select long-distance special trains during the festival. The ECoR has also undertaken extensive measures for crowd management, including the setup of pilgrim waiting areas, security arrangements, medical facilities, and provisions for essential amenities such as power, water supply, cleanliness, and adequate toilets.

During their Delhi visit, Chief Minister Majhi and his deputies met with several Union Ministers and dignitaries to discuss various aspects of the Rath Yatra arrangements and related issues.