Bhubaneswar: In preparation for the world-famous Rath Yatra in Puri, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced an unprecedented rail plan to manage the surge in pilgrim traffic. A record 365 Special Trains will be operated during the Rath Yatra 2025 period—marking a significant increase from last year’s 315 special services.
These trains will connect pilgrims from various corners of Odisha and neighboring states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal. The initiative is aimed at ensuring safe, comfortable, and seamless travel for lakhs of devotees expected to throng the holy town of Puri for the annual Car Festival.
The special trains will operate from a wide range of locations such as Rourkela, Biramitrapur, Bangiriposi, Junagarh Road, Badampahar, Boudh, Jagdalpur, Baleswar, Angul, Gunupur, Rayagada, Paradeep, Bhadrak, Kendujhar, Daspalla, Khurda Road, Sambalpur, Talcher, Cuttack, Brahmapur, Dhenkanal, and Barbil, as well as Palasa and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Gondia (Chhattisgarh), and Santragachhi (West Bengal).
Special emphasis has been placed on the major festival days—Gundicha Yatra, Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Yatra, and Sunavesa—with dedicated services from multiple directions to ensure pilgrims can attend all key rituals and celebrations.
Officials noted that meticulous planning has gone into expanding rail services beyond just the main festival days. Several trains have been scheduled from interior and tribal-dominated regions to make the event more accessible to devotees living in remote areas.
“The increase in the number of special trains reflects our commitment to serving the people during this spiritually significant time,” said a senior ECoR official. “We want every devotee to reach Puri safely and return home with ease.”
East Coast Railway has urged passengers to check real-time schedules, train routes, and seat availability through official railway portals and mobile apps. Public announcements and updates will also be made closer to the festival dates to assist travelers.
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