Bhubaneswar, July 1 (Agency) Special trains for the Puri Rath Yatra will run using an Artificial Intelligence-based dynamic scheduling system, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced.Reviewing railway arrangements for devotees and visitors during the Rath Yatra starting next week Vaishnaw stated that whenever there is a rise in demand, the railway will provide more trains to the specific destination.He mentioned that this year, the Railways plan to carry 1.5 million passengers to and from Puri for the world-famous Car Festival of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.Vaishnaw visited Puri Railway Station on Sunday to review the arrangements made for the convenience and benefit of pilgrims and devotees during the Rath Yatra period.Inspecting the Rath Yatra arrangements by Railways, the Union Minister expressed the Indian Railways’ commitment to better passenger facilities and convenience, aiming to improve the overall travel experience of its passengers. Highlighting the initiatives undertaken for Rath Yatra, Vaishnaw mentioned that this year, a total of 315 special trains are being operated for passenger convenience. These special trains, he said, will connect Puri with various destinations, including trains from neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.
The Railways, the Rajya Sabha MP said, have planned to provide special trains from every part of his home state, including Badampahar, Bangiriposi, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Junagarh Road, Sonepur, Gunupur, Brahmapur, Daspalla, Angul, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, and Baleswar. The Union Minister also highlighted measures such as crowd management, train information system/enquiry counters, video wall displays, the UTS mobile app, additional ticket booking counters, and mobile ticket counters to be implemented by Railways during the annual festival. He said a pilgrim waiting area/shed and mela shed would accommodate more than 25,000 pilgrims and devotees. Additionally, security arrangements, catering and hospitality, medical facilities and ambulances, as well as provisions for power supply, water supply, cleanliness, security, drinking water, and sufficient toilets have been made for the convenience of passengers, especially pilgrims, he said.