Indian Railways to Run Over 300 Special Trains for Puri Rath Yatra 2026
Indian Railways to Run Over 300 Special Trains for Puri Rath Yatra 2026
CNB WORLD TIMES
Bhubaneswar, 15th July: To facilitate the smooth travel of lakhs of devotees attending the world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 in Puri, Indian Railways has announced an extensive network of special train services. More than 300 special trains will be operated to manage the heavy rush of pilgrims travelling from different parts of Odisha and neighbouring states.
The special train services will connect Puri with several major destinations, including Jagdalpur, Rayagada, Badampahar, Bhadrak, Visakhapatnam, Palasa, Keonjhar, Paradeep, Sambalpur, Kharagpur, and Malda Town. These additional services aim to provide convenient travel options for devotees during the festival period.
East Coast Railway (ECoR) will operate special trains on demand between Badampahar and Puri during the Rath Yatra. Special trains between Jagdalpur and Puri (08553/08554) will also run via important stations such as Rayagada and Khurda Road. In addition, the Bhadrak–Puri Special (08485) will provide unreserved travel for pilgrims from coastal Odisha.
The special train services will operate during all major events of Rath Yatra, including Gundicha Yatra, Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Yatra, and Sunabesa, ensuring smooth transportation throughout the festival.
To handle the expected crowd, Puri Railway Station has been equipped with several passenger-friendly facilities. Dedicated pilgrim holding areas, temporary mela sheds with a capacity of over 30,000 devotees, additional drinking water booths, and extra ticket booking counters have been arranged to improve passenger convenience and crowd management.
The railway arrangements were reviewed during a meeting between Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The meeting focused on ensuring safe, efficient, and hassle-free travel for devotees visiting Puri during the annual festival.
Railway officials have advised passengers to check train schedules, reservation status, and operational updates before travelling through the official Indian Railways and IRCTC platforms.
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