Puri Railway Station Infrastructure Upgrade Leads to Major Train Service Disruptions
In a significant development impacting rail travel, more than 30 trains originating and terminating at Puri railway station in Odisha will experience operational changes from March 11 to May 16. This disruption is a direct result of ongoing infrastructure upgradation work aimed at enhancing passenger amenities and operational efficiency at the station.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced that key services, including the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Puri Express and Sealdah-Puri Duronto Express, will be short-terminated or short-originated during this period. The work primarily involves ballastless track construction in the station yard and the development of platforms 7 and 8, with a target completion date set before the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri.
Detailed Train Service Alterations and Passenger Impact
According to an official statement from ECoR, the disruptions will specifically affect passenger services between Khurda Road and Puri stations. To facilitate the essential upgrades, several trains have been rerouted to alternative stations:
- Eight trains, such as the Gandhidham-Puri Express and Tirupati-Puri Express, will now originate from and terminate at Sakhigopal station instead of Puri.
- Four trains, including the Indore-Puri Express and Sri Ganganagar-Puri Express, will be shifted to Bir Purushottampur station.
- Four other trains, like the Rourkela-Puri Express, will operate from Khurda Road station, while the Howrah-Puri Express and Puri-Howrah Express will be short-terminated at Malatipatpur station.
An ECoR spokesperson emphasized that these measures are temporary but necessary to expedite the station work. Additionally, the railways is likely to cancel several more trains in the coming days to further speed up the process.
Passenger Convenience Measures and Advisory
To mitigate inconvenience, ECoR has arranged bus services between the short-terminated or short-originated stations and Puri. Passengers are strongly advised to check the latest train status through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or railway enquiry services before embarking on their journeys.
This infrastructure upgrade underscores the railways' commitment to improving facilities ahead of major events like Rath Yatra, though it presents temporary challenges for travelers. The disruptions highlight the balance between development and service continuity in India's rail network.
