Bhubaneswar, July 25 (UDN): The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced a series of special train services to facilitate the movement of devotees attending the Suna Besha and Adharapana rituals of the ongoing Rath Yatra 2026 in Puri.
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The additional services have been introduced to handle the anticipated surge in passenger traffic and ensure smooth, safe, and convenient travel for pilgrims visiting the holy city during the two major rituals.
Alongside its regular train operations to and from Puri, ECoR will run special trains connecting several parts of Odisha and neighbouring regions, providing enhanced rail connectivity for devotees.
Special Trains for Suna Besha
On the occasion of Suna Besha, special trains will operate from Paradeep, Angul, Bhadrak, Talcher, Kendrapara Road, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Brahmapur, Kendujhargarh, Khurda Road, and Daspalla to Puri.
For the return journey, special trains will depart from Puri to destinations including Talcher, Badampahar, Dhenkanal, Bangriposi, Rayagada, Bhadrak, Angul, Gunupur, Rourkela, Daspalla, Sambalpur, Palasa, Visakhapatnam, and Shalimar.
Additional Services for Adharapana
To accommodate the increased rush during the Adharapana ritual, East Coast Railway will also operate special trains from Brahmapur, Daspalla, Angul, Kendujhargarh, Paradeep, Bhadrak, and Khurda Road to Puri.
Return services from Puri will connect Talcher, Dhenkanal, Bangriposi, Bhadrak, Angul, Daspalla, Khurda Road, Brahmapur, Kendujhargarh, and Paradeep, enabling devotees to travel back after the rituals.
Passenger Amenities Strengthened
To manage the festival rush, East Coast Railway has put in place a comprehensive passenger support system across key stations. A 24×7 control room has been established to monitor train operations and address passenger grievances in real time.
Additional ticket booking counters, mobile ticketing facilities, enquiry and information centres, regular public announcements, crowd management measures, video display boards, and UTS mobile ticketing services have been arranged. Special waiting areas for pilgrims have also been created.
Railway authorities have further strengthened security arrangements while ensuring the availability of medical teams, ambulances, catering services, uninterrupted drinking water and power supply, clean station premises, and adequate sanitation facilities.
East Coast Railway said the special arrangements are aimed at providing devotees with a safe, secure, and hassle-free travel experience during the remaining events of the world-famous Rath Yatra festival in Puri.