Lagatar24 Desk
Bhubaneswar: East Coast Railway has announced the operation of special trains for devotees travelling to Puri for the Jagannath Rath Yatra, aimed at helping pilgrims from western and southern Odisha reach the pilgrimage town smoothly, with special services being run from major cities including Jagdalpur, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Shalimar to manage the surge in crowds during the festival.
Jagdalpur-Puri Special Train Schedule and Stoppages
Train number 08553 will depart from Jagdalpur at 6 am on July 15 and 23, arriving in Puri at 1:40 am the following day. On the return journey, train number 08554 will leave Puri at 7:15 pm on July 16 and 24, reaching Jagdalpur by 1:15 pm the next day. This special train will halt at several major stations including Koraput, Jeypore, Kotpad, Rayagada, Gunupur, Parlakhemundi, Palasa and Khurda Road. Additionally, a Rayagada-Puri special train will also operate on scheduled dates, providing further convenience to passengers from southern Odisha.
Shalimar-Puri Special Train Timings
Train number 08565/08566 will depart from Shalimar at 6 pm on July 15 and 23, reaching Puri at 6 am the next day. On its return trip, the train will leave Puri at 12:30 am on July 17 and 25, arriving in Shalimar by 1:30 pm. This train will make stops at stations including Santragachi, Mecheda, Kharagpur, Belda, Dantan, Jaleswar, Basta, Rupsa, Balasore and Soro.
Over 300 Special Trains to Operate Nationwide
With crores of devotees expected to travel to Puri from across the country for the Rath Yatra, Indian Railways is preparing to run more than 300 special trains nationwide to accommodate the rising number of passengers and ensure a smooth travel experience during the festival.
