Odisha: Special train run to Puri, services may resume soon

BHUBANESWAR: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Tuesday ran a special train to Puri before it resumes full-fledged service. As the over head electric (OHE) wires have been damaged in the cyclone Fani, the railway zone has run the train with a diesel engine.
The special train left Khurda Road at 9.45 am and reached Puri at around 1 pm. Trains take around one hour to reach Puri, but it took more than three hours due to the huge damage in the route. This train again returned to Khurda Road by the evening.
This train reached Puri safely due to the clearance of a train which was run to the beach town on trial basis on Monday by clearing obstructions. The trial train had started its journey at 7.40am from Khurda Road and reached Puri at 12.10 pm on Monday. It had taken four and a half hours due to the huge damage in the route.
The train boarded with specialised staff had cleared the line by cutting trees and other stuff lying on the track. They gave extra effort to clear debris and damages between Malatipatpur and Puri station, said a spokesman of ECoR.
"It is a great thing for us that we ventured into the area devastated by the cyclone. ECoR general manager Vidya Bhushan visited Puri and reviewed restoration works. We will start some special trains from Puri or its nearby stations very soon," said a senior railway officer.
Bhubaneswar on Tuesday witnessed more than 70 trains (both originated and passing). More than 12 trains were cancelled.
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reviewed progress of railway restoration process in the affected areas with ECoR GM. The railway zone apprised him about the huge damage of railway properties in the cyclone.
ECoR sources said 60 OHEs over 2200 track kilometers have been either uprooted or damaged in the gale. Coaching depot at Puri was completely damaged. Besides, 35 signals, 20 level crossing gates, 15 electric sub-stations, roof of many platforms and stations and trees fell at 200 work locations in the Railways.