Travellers heading to or from the sacred city of Puri, home to the famous Jagannath Temple, should brace for temporary disruptions over the next two months.
East Coast Railway has announced a series of carefully planned service adjustments to facilitate the upgradation of Platforms No. 5 and 6 at Puri Railway Station.
The infrastructure work, scheduled from 25 August to 20 October 2026, aims to enhance passenger facilities and operational efficiency at one of Odisha’s busiest and most important stations. While the modernisation promises long-term benefits, it requires short-term sacrifices in the form of cancelled services, short terminations, and altered originating points.
Cancelled Services
Two local MEMU trains will remain completely suspended throughout the period:
- Train No. 68409 Khurda Road–Puri MEMU
- Train No. 68410 Puri–Khurda Road MEMU
Trains Short-Terminated Before Reaching Puri
Several popular long-distance and regional trains will terminate at intermediate stations instead of Puri. Key examples include:
- Multiple trains ending at **Khurda Road** (including the Rourkela–Puri Express, Jaleswar–Puri MEMU, and Talcher–Puri MEMU)
- The Sambalpur–Puri Express terminating at **Sakhigopal**
- A long list of prestigious expresses — such as the Sealdah–Puri Duronto, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Puri Express, Kamakhya–Puri services, and several trains from western and northern India — short-terminating at **Malatipatpur**
Specific dates vary for weekly and bi-weekly trains, so passengers are urged to verify their exact journey dates.
Trains Starting from Alternate Stations
Return services will mirror these changes, originating from Khurda Road, Sakhigopal, or Malatipatpur rather than Puri. This includes the popular Puri–Rourkela Express, Puri–Sealdah Duronto, and several other long-distance trains.
Railway officials emphasised that these measures have been introduced to ensure the safety of passengers and workers while the platform upgradation work progresses smoothly.
Passenger Advisory
East Coast Railway strongly advises all travellers to check the latest running status on the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or website, or contact official railway enquiry channels before starting their journey. Advance planning will help minimise inconvenience during this temporary phase.
While the next two months may require some flexibility, the completed works at Platforms 5 and 6 are expected to significantly improve the travel experience at Puri — a station that welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists every year.
