Bhubaneswar: In view of the large number of devotees to visit Puri during the nine-day long Rath Yatra from June 25, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has decided to run 143 special trains to the pilgrim city.
From June 25 to July 5, the train ‘Yatra Express Specials’ will run originating from Khurda via Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Paradip, Berhampur, Bhawanipatna, Keonjhar, Bangiriposi (Mayurbhanj), Palasa and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Kharagpur, Shalimar (Kolkata) in West Bengal.
For Gundicha Yatra, which begins on June 25, 28 special trains will run to Puri. Besides, 56 trains will run between June 26 and July 2 for Sandhya Darshan. ECoR has also announced 28 trains each for Bahuda Yatra and Sunabesha ritual. Three special trains are also set to run on July 5.
As per reports, five additional enquiry counters, 35 additional ticket counters, 'May I Help You' booths will also be opened. In addition, some coaches and engines would be put on standby for deployment at short notice, railway sources said.
Meanwhile, the State Transport department today decided to ply additional 100 buses daily to Puri for the event.