Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway will do branding of Puri railway station as a clean one during rath yatra festival.

Apart from decorating the station with colourful lights, the railway will keep the station area, pilgrim complex and the station yard clean.

This year, the focus is on sanitation, apart from security and punctuality during the festival.

"Tourists coming and leaving the station will get an optimistic feeling through the efforts," said a railway official.

Railway officials on Monday reviewed arrangements and ensured proper co-ordination between the government and the railway police.

"Extra CCTV cameras will be put in position at crucial points," said an official.

In another development, Nalco launched a free eco-friendly electric vehicle service between the Jagannath temple and Jagannath Ballav Math at Puri.

Earlier this year, Nalco had started battery-operated vehicle service in Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack railways stations. Nalco managing director Tapan Kumar Chand flagged off the service, which will benefit senior citizens. This public service would be maintained for the next five years.

"We would like Puri to be known across the country and world as one of the cleanest religious and tourist destinations. A number of steps have been taken to develop Puri under the government's Swachh Iconic Place project. We will bring in significant all-round development across Puri,'' said Chand.

Besides, various cultural groups are also gearing up to perform during the car festival. A number of folk artistes from the state take the festival as a platform to showcase their talents.

Kumar Bhimsen, an Odissi dancer who has been accompanying the Trinity to the chariots since the last few years, says performing on the day of the rath yatra gives a special satisfaction. "It is a wonderful feeling that cannot be replaced," he said.