Ahead of Rath, ECoR speeds up Puri station upgrade

Bhubaneswar: With the Rath Yatra drawing closer, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has expedited preparations to ensure seamless passenger movement in Puri.Parmeshwar Funkwal, general manager, ECoR, on Tuesday said all ongoing redevelopment works at Puri railway station would be completed well ahead of the chariot festival to handle the massive influx of devotees.Funkwal conducted an inspection of Khurda Road-Puri railway section earlier in the day, followed by a detailed review of station development and passenger amenity works with concerned officials in Puri.The general manager assessed track conditions, signalling systems and overall operational efficiency along the section, which witnesses a sharp surge in train services and footfall during major Rath and other festivities.At Puri station, the focus was on redevelopment work and augmentation of pilgrim-centric infrastructure. Senior railway officers briefed the GM on progress related to platform development, circulating areas, waiting halls and other passenger handling facilities being upgraded ahead of Rath Yatra.Emphasising a passenger-first approach, Funkwal directed officials to expedite all work and closely monitor timelines so that the station is fully prepared before the chariot festival. He said the upgrades are aimed at ensuring safe, smooth and comfortable movement of pilgrims amid peak crowd movement.The GM also stressed the need to maintain high standards of safety and sanitation at the station and across the section, underlining the importance of close coordination among different railway departments to manage intensified train operations during the pilgrimage period.