Bhartiya Rail: Facilitating Rath Yatra pilgrimage
With millions heading to Puri for the famous Rath Yatra, Indian Railways has seriously stepped up its game.
Odisha's rail budget just shot up to over ₹10,500 crore for 2025-26, and since 2014, more than 2,100km of new tracks have been added—outpacing even Malaysia's network.
The goal: smooth travel for everyone flocking in.
1,215 trains are connecting Puri with the rest of India
This year sees a record 1,215 trains (including 365 special ones) connecting Puri with the rest of Odisha and nearby states. AI helps predict demand so schedules can keep up with the rush.
At Puri station itself—expecting two lakh people daily—there's a new holding area for 25,000 passengers, free food stalls and water coolers, plus extra sanitation and medical help.
How railways is ensuring safety at Puri station
To keep things safe but welcoming during the festival chaos, there are CCTV cameras everywhere, drones overhead, and even facial recognition tech at Puri station.
And behind the scenes? Railway teams use special gear to move those iconic chariots from their workshop to the temple—a careful job that blends faith with precision.