Odisha Governor visited the Jagannath Temple.
Bhubaneswar: According to an official statement, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, accompanied by his wife Jayashree Kambhampati, visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Saturday.
He offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, seeking their blessings for enduring peace, progress, and prosperity in Odisha, as well as for the well-being of the people. Subsequently, the Governor visited the site of the ongoing Puri railway station development project and reviewed the progress of the work aimed at transforming the station into a modern, passenger-friendly transport hub.
Railway officials showcased the modern amenities being developed for passengers through a scale model and detailed project plans.
The statement noted that the upgraded station will feature a range of facilities, including a food court, ‘Jan Aahar’ outlets, retiring rooms, dormitories, passenger lounges, automatic ticket vending machines, dedicated parking for the differently-abled, baggage scanners, and seamless entry and exit systems.
Later, he inspected various sections of the project site and reviewed the pace and quality of the ongoing construction work.
In a social media post, Kambhampati wrote, “As one of the country’s major pilgrimage sites, Puri deserves world-class railway infrastructure. The ongoing modernization will significantly enhance comfort, accessibility, and the overall travel experience for devotees and visitors.”
According to the statement, he subsequently held a review meeting with senior officials from the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and the district administration at Puri Lok Bhawan.
He was briefed on the status of the Puri railway station development project and the progress of the proposed Puri-Konark railway link project.
During the meeting, the Governor emphasized that the station development project must be completed before Lord Jagannath’s 2027 Rath Yatra, ensuring that millions of devotees, pilgrims, and travelers can benefit from improved facilities and an enhanced travel experience. Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for modern and world-class railway infrastructure across the country, he stated that such projects play a pivotal role in enhancing connectivity, boosting tourism, and strengthening economic growth.
To ensure adherence to timelines, the Governor advised officials to conduct weekly monitoring of work progress and hold periodic reviews. He was also briefed on the progress of ongoing development and modernization works at major railway stations in Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and other stations falling under the jurisdiction of the East Coast Railway.
The statement noted that, while emphasizing the need to complete all ongoing projects on schedule, he urged all concerned agencies to work in coordination. He also called for ensuring that the benefits of modern railway infrastructure reach the public as soon as possible, thereby contributing to Odisha’s development and improving passenger services across the state.
