Finance
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inspected Indian Railways’ preparations for the impending Rath Yatra in Puri, with a focus on providing safe, seamless, and comfortable travel for the lakhs of devotees scheduled to attend the annual festival.
During the review, Vaishnaw analyzed crowd control, passenger circulation, and overall operational readiness. Senior railway authorities and local administration representatives informed the minister on the integrated operational strategy implemented to ensure the seamless transit of pilgrims during the festival.
As part of the planning, Indian Railways intends to operate around 300 special trains for the Rath Yatra. To address the expected rise in passenger traffic, Puri is constructing holding spaces capable of accommodating over 30,000 devotees, as well as additional ticket offices and food preparations.
The railway minister also assessed the station’s passenger facilities and other amenities. He examined steps to improve passenger convenience, increase safety and security procedures, and ensure effective train operations during the Rath Yatra.
The study comes as the Railways and the Odisha government ramp up preparations for one of the country’s major religious gatherings, which draws lakhs of devotees to Jagannath Temple and the annual Rath Yatra in Puri.
