Homeward bound

The East Coast Railway has decided to run additional special trains and extend services of the existing ones to and from Puri after rath yatra. On bahuda yatra, the return journey of the deities, and following golden avatar of the holy trio, the suna besha ritual, special trains will run to ensure a comfortable journey for the visitors from various parts of the state.

The services of 12891/12892 Bangiriposi-Bhubaneswar-Bangiriposi Express earlier extended to Puri till July 19 will now run till July 20. A special train from Bhawanipatna will leave at 1pm on July 17 and will arrive at Puri at 4.20am on July 18, the bahuda yatra day. On its return journey, this train will leave Puri at 6.15pm on July 18 and will run till Balangir scheduled to arrive at 7am on the next day.

Another special train will leave Bhawanipatna at 5am on July 19, on the day of suna besha and arrive in Puri at 8pm. On the return journey, this train will leave Puri at 11.45pm on July 19 and run till Balangir scheduled to arrive at 12pm on July 20.

One more special train from Puri will leave at 10.15pm on the suna besha day towards Bhawanipatna and will arrive at 11pm on the next day.

Sanitation and cleanliness measures have also been improved at the stations to ensure health security of passengers to and from Puri.

An 1800sqmt temporary shed that can accommodate 3,000 people at a time has been installed at the Puri railway station. Drinking water taps and food kiosks have also been set up at the Puri station for the festival.

Other major facilities for the visitors offered by the East Coast Railway are medical assistance booths and ambulances as well as tight security arrangements for passengers onboard the special trains.