The East Coast Railway (ECoR) achieved a unique milestone by running highest ever number of special trains to Puri during Rath Yatra period this year.
Around 225 special trains were arranged for Rath Yatra Festival against the previously announced 205 special trains. Additional 20 special trains have been provided this year for Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha instead of the earlier planned special trains.
The ECoR in a statement said that the Ministry of Railways had earlier announced 205 special trains to and from Puri during Rath Yatra period for smooth travel and convenience of the pilgrims.
Special Trains were also planned to run for Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha in view of rush and demands from devotees. Expecting the gathering of more devotees during the above days, Railways has planned to run 20 more special trains including the running of Special Trains on the day after Suna Besha.
For the convenience of passengers, East Coast Railway has taken necessary steps to provide reserved Class Accommodation in some of the long distance Special Trains.
02891/02810 Bhubaneswar-Puri- Bhubaneswar daily Rath Yatra Special will leave from Bhubaneswar at 1005hrs and in return will leave Puri at 1510hrs between July 1 to 11.
On Sandhya Darshan Day (July 8), 7 pairs (3 pairs from Mahipur and 4 pairs from Khurda Road) of Special Trains were earlier notified to run towards Puri and vice versa.
Apart from this, 08933/08934 Visakhapatnam-Puri-Visakhapatnam Special, 08937/08938 Junagarh Road-Puri-Junagarh Road Special, 08945/08946 Sambalpur-Puri- Sambalpur Special, 08941/08942 Gunupur-Puri-Gunupur Special were notified to run towards Puri and will return to their originating points.
On Bahuda Yatra (July 9), 10 pairs of Special Trains from Paradeep, Mahipur, Cuttack, Brahmapur, Bhadrak, Khurda Road, Keonjhargarh will run towards Puri and vice versa.
Apart from the above, 5 additional Special Trains will go to Puri from Bhadrak, Cuttack, Khurda Road, Paradeep and Brahmapur for Bahuda Yatra. In the return direction, 8 additional Special Trains will leave from Puri towards Kendujhargarh, Brahmapur, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Paradeep and Khurda Road.
On Suna Besha Day, i.e. on 10th July, 2022; 11 pairs of Special Trains from Paradeep, Mahipur, Cuttack, Brahmapur, Bhadrak, Khurda Road, Keonjhargarh will run towards Puri and vice versa. These apart, 08971/08972 Junagarh Road-Puri-Junagarh Road Special, 08957/08958 Gunupur-Puri-Gunupur Special, 08979/08980 Sambalpur-Puri- Sambalpur Special, 08975/08976 Visakhapatnam-Puri-Visakhapatnam Special were earlier announced.
Apart from the above Special Trains, 8 additional Special Trains from Cuttack, Bhadrak, Brahmapur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh and Khurda Road will run to Puri and in the return direction 8 additional Special Trains will leave from Puri towards Cuttack, Bhadrak, Brahmapur and Khurda Road directions.
On day after Sunavesha (July 11, 2022), 6 Special Trains will leave Puri towards Gunupur, Rayagada, Bhadrak, Visakhapatnam, Kendujhargarh and Mahipur and One Special Train will run from Keonjhargarh to Puri. 08983 Puri-Sambalpur Special will leave Puri at 1200hrs on 11.07.2022 towards Sambalpur.