In view of the massive gathering of devotees during Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026, the Indian Railways has made special arrangements to ensure smooth and convenient travel for pilgrims heading to Puri.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) will operate more than 300 special trains during the festival period to manage the expected rush of devotees from different parts of Odisha and other states.

The special train services will particularly benefit devotees from western and southern Odisha, along with passengers travelling from other regions. According to ECoR, special trains will operate on key routes including Jagdalpur–Puri, Rayagada–Puri, Sambalpur–Puri and Shalimar–Puri.

Jagdalpur–Puri Special Train

Train No. 08553 will depart from Jagdalpur at 6 AM on July 15 and July 23 and will reach Puri at 1:40 AM the following day.

The return train, 08554, will leave Puri at 7:15 PM on July 16 and July 24 and reach Jagdalpur at 1:15 PM the next day.

The train will halt at major stations including Koraput, Jeypore, Kotpad, Rayagada, Gunupur, Paralakhemundi, Palasa and Khurda Road.

Shalimar–Puri Special Train

Train No. 08565/08566 will leave Shalimar at 6 PM on July 15 and July 23 and arrive at Puri at 6 AM the next morning.

The return service will depart from Puri at 12:30 AM on July 17 and July 25 and reach Shalimar at 1:30 PM the following day.

The train will stop at stations including Santragachi, Mecheda, Kharagpur, Belda, Dantan, Jaleswar, Basta, Rupsa, Balasore and Soro.

Apart from these services, special trains will also run on the Rayagada–Puri and Sambalpur–Puri routes on scheduled dates.

With lakhs of devotees expected to visit Puri from across the country for the world-famous Rath Yatra, the railway authorities have introduced these additional services to reduce passenger inconvenience and manage crowd pressure.

The special train arrangements are expected to make travel to Puri easier and more accessible for devotees participating in the grand chariot festival.

Hon’ble Railway Minister Reviews Cyclone “Montha” Preparedness with ECoR and SCR Officials

OdishaConnect — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:32:42 +0000

As severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ approaches the east coast, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, held a comprehensive review meeting on preparedness with officials of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and South Central Railway (SCR).

The virtual meeting, conducted on Tuesday, aimed to assess the operational readiness and safety measures being implemented by both railway zones to mitigate any potential disruptions caused by the approaching cyclone.

Focus on Passenger Safety and Operational Continuity

During the review, the Hon’ble Minister was briefed on precautionary actions already undertaken in vulnerable areas, particularly across the Waltair and Khurda Road divisions. Officials highlighted steps such as pre-positioning of engineering and electrical teams, monitoring of overhead equipment, and identification of low-lying track sections prone to flooding.

The Minister stressed that passenger safety remains the top priority, directing all zones to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and timely communication with passengers regarding cancellations, diversions, or rescheduling of trains.

High Alert Across Railway Zones

General Manager of East Coast Railway, Shri Parmeshwar Funkwal, along with Principal Heads of Departments and Divisional Railway Managers, presented a detailed status report on field preparedness. Disaster response teams have been deployed in strategic locations to tackle any emergency situations.

Shri Vaishnaw emphasized the need for constant coordination with state administrations and disaster management agencies, and instructed both ECoR and SCR to maintain 24×7 control rooms for real-time monitoring of the cyclone’s impact.

Preparedness for Quick Restoration Post-Cyclone

Looking ahead, the Minister directed all railway zones to stay on high alert and to plan for swift restoration of train services once weather conditions improve. He underlined the importance of ensuring that communication channels between railway divisions, control offices, and disaster management cells remain seamless throughout the cyclone period.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Railways to prioritize passenger safety, minimize service disruption, and ensure rapid recovery of railway operations once Cyclone Montha passes.

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