Khurda: Keeping in view the huge inflow of devotees to Puri by train during the Rath Yatra period from July 4 and July 13 this year, Khurda Road Division has been at the forefront and has made elaborate arrangements.
As per a press note released by East Coast Railway (ECoR Khurda Road Division, post FANI huge damage caused to Puri railway station, the restoration works are going on war-footing basis and Puri railway station and the coaching depot will get their shapes before the annual car festival. Also special arrangements have been made.
Briefing media today here, ECoR Khurda Road DRM Sashikant Singh informed, “Post FANI we have been making all arrangements on a war-footing for the ensuing Rath Yatra so that this year’s arrangement is made better than last year’s. We are getting support and cooperation from all quarters, especially the district administration. We’re fully hopeful that we could be able to cater to the comfortable and successful service to the passengers coming to witness Puri Rath Yatra.”
He added, “This time we are running more trains and going to open more ticket counters than that of last year. For the safety and security, we have drone cameras this time, sniffer dogs, train information system display board near the Jagannath temple and Puri sea beach. In the tourist complex in Puri, the NGO will serve food free of cost there. We have already consulted the Puri Collector in this regard.”
“This time we are running 194 special trains for the day besides the regular train services. We are going to open 60 extra ticket counters,” the DRM stated.
ECoR Khurda Road Division Additional Railway Security Commissioner Binay Kumar Behera informed, “This year RPF has made elaborate arrangements for the safety and security of the passengers. Accordingly, 550 officers and staff, one company of Railway Protection Special Force, 550 GRP personnel will be deployed.”
“For checking crime, one luggage scanning machine, 73 CCTV cameras, 2 door frame metal detectors, 44 hand-held metal detectors will be used. Besides, two drone cameras will be pressed into service for controlling crowd from the aerial surveillance. 5 sniffer dog squads will also be deployed, one at Bhubaneswar railway station, one at Khurda Road while three sniffer dogs will be pressed into service at Puri station,” he further informed.
