New Delhi: Given the upcoming Puri Rath Yatra starting June 27, Friday, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) will run special trains to and from Puri. During the festival period, the special train will run in addition to other regular trains. The EcoR has made detailed plans to ensure a smooth travel experience for pilgrims and visitors from Odisha and nearby states. On Sunday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi instructed officers to make this year’s Rath Yatra in Puri free from indecency.

Special Trains

Special trains will run from various parts of the state, include revorekela, biramitrapur, bangiriposi, junagarh road, badampahar, boudh, jagdalpur, baleswar, angul, gunupur, Rayagada, and more. Trains will also operate to and from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Gondia in Chhattisgarh, and Santragachi in West Bengal During the main days of the car festival.

These trains will help the large number of pilgrims attending the festival and make travel easier for people in remote areas. This year, there will be more trains than last year when 315 special trains were used. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) advises passengers to check train schedules and availability on official railway websites and to listen for updates as the festival approaches.

Safety Measures for Rath Yatra

The Chief Minister, Majhi, held a meeting to review preparations for the Rath Yatra, which will take place on June 27. He assured the public that the administration is ready for the smooth running of the festival, which attracts many devotees to Puri each year. During this event, the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra travel on chariots from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha shrine.

The Chief Minister stressed the importance of making sure the Rath Yatra is safe. All departments are coordinating their efforts.

Safety Measures

• AI-enabled CCTV cameras will monitor key areas in the pilgrim town during the festival, which will have tight security.
• Due to a diarrhoea outbreak in some districts, the health department and agencies must keep a close watch. It is crucial to ensure that unhealthy food and water are not available for sale. Safe drinking water and healthy food should be accessible to tourists during the festival.
• The Chief Minister asked the servitors to help complete the rituals smoothly and on time during the Rath Yatra.
• A five-level security plan involves over 10,000 police personnel for the Rath Yatra.
• Quick response teams and drones will provide support.
• The Coast Guard will be present on the coastline to ensure a safe celebration.
• Central armed forces will be stationed at the entrances to the town of Puri.