Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) will operate a record 365 special trains during this year’s Puri Rath Yatra, in addition to its regular train services.
ECoR has made extensive arrangements to facilitate smooth travel for pilgrims and visitors from across Odisha and neighbouring states.
These special trains will run throughout the festival period, covering almost all parts of Odisha, as well as Visakhapatnam and Palasa in Andhra Pradesh, Jagdalpur and Gondia in Chhattisgarh, and Santragachi in West Bengal.
Special emphasis will be laid on the major days of the Car Festival, with trains running from 25 destinations in Odisha and key locations such as Palasa and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Gondia (Chhattisgarh), and Santragachi (West Bengal).
This comprehensive rail network is designed to cater to the massive influx of pilgrims and will significantly ease travel for people from remote and interior regions.
According to ECoR sources, special train services are planned not only for the key days—Gundicha Yatra, Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Yatra, and Sunavesa—but also for the days surrounding them. Dedicated trains will operate from important locations including Rourkela, Badampahar, Biramitrapur, Bangiriposi, Baleswar, Barbil, Angul, Paradeep, Bhadrak, Kendujhargarh, Daspalla, Khurda Road, and others.
This year’s arrangements represent a major scale-up compared to Rath Yatra 2024, when 315 special trains were run. With this increase, East Coast Railway reaffirms its commitment to ensuring safe, comfortable, and efficient travel for all devotees participating in Odisha’s most celebrated spiritual event.
ECoR has urged passengers to check train schedules and availability through official railway portals and to stay informed via public announcements closer to the festival dates.
