Bhubaneswar: As Puri gears up for the grand Rath Yatra, East Coast Railway (ECoR) is undertaking extensive, coordinated preparations to ensure smooth travel and safety for the lakhs of devotees expected to attend the annual festival. ECoR general manager Parmeshwar Funkwal inspected Puri Railway Station Wednesday to review the comprehensive arrangements focused on passenger comfort, crowd management, and infrastructure readiness. To handle the surge in passenger traffic, ECoR is running over 365 special trains from key states including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Puri Railway Station, the spiritual hub during the festival, has undergone major upgrades with newly established Pilgrim Waiting Areas and Mela Sheds that can accommodate up to 20,000 devotees. These zones are equipped with covered seating, drinking water booths, modular toilets, mobile charging points, shaded rest areas, and medical first-aid stations with ambulance support, an official said. Digital infrastructure has been significantly enhanced, with real-time train and crowd updates provided through LED displays, public announcements, and the dedicated “ECoR Yatra” app. To assist pilgrims, help desks and “May I Help You” counters have been set up at key locations. Digital ticketing is also being actively promoted via the UTS app, ATVMs with facilitators, and mobile ticket counters.
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Additionally, 34 booking counters at Puri and 35 more at junctions like Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road, Cuttack, Brahmapur, and Bhadrak have been set up to ease ticketing congestion. Security arrangements have been significantly ramped up with the deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), Scouts and Guides, and dual-layer ticket checks. Surveillance has been strengthened with 250 CCTV cameras, drones, sniffer dogs, face recognition systems, and fire tenders. Ten entry gates at the station have been fortified with barricades and manual frisking systems, while major junctions are under close watch through a “fortress check” mechanism.
In terms of amenities, pilgrims will have access to Janata meals, snacks, water bottles, and OSOP (One Station One Product) stalls that display local crafts, handlooms, and appliqué work. Temporary food stalls have also been set up at platforms and Mela Sheds to serve pilgrims. ECoR is also prioritising cleanliness and medical support, with 24×7 sanitation staff, mobile toilets, jet-cleaning units, and waste management systems in place. Medical booths staffed with doctors and paramedics, supported by ambulances, are stationed at multiple points to handle any health emergencies.
