With just days remaining for the much-anticipated visit of Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Odisha’s top administrative leadership on Tuesday fine-tuned every detail of the three-day programme scheduled from 3 to 5 August 2026.
A high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, IAS, was held at the conference hall of Lok Seva Bhawan. Senior officials including ACS (Home) Hemant Sharma, DGP Y.B. Khurania, DG of Fire Services Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi, secretaries of various departments, Divisional Railway Manager of East Coast Railway, and other senior officers attended. Collectors and Superintendents of Police of Cuttack and Ganjam districts joined virtually.
According to the finalised itinerary, the President will depart New Delhi by special aircraft on the afternoon of 3 August and land at Bhubaneswar Airport. After a brief halt at Lok Bhawan, she will proceed by road to Jagadguru Kripalu University near Baranga under Dompada tehsil of Kataka district to formally inaugurate the institution. She will return to Lok Bhawan the same evening for an overnight stay.
On 4 August, considering the prevailing monsoon conditions, the President will travel by special train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Brahmapur. From there she will visit the picturesque Taptapani hot springs, offer darshan and participate in aarti at Maa Kandhuni Debi Peeth, and plant a sapling. A possible visit to the historic Dhabaleswar Temple near Brahmapur-Gopalpur is also under consideration. Night halt will be arranged either at Army Air Defence College or as per the final protocol.
On 5 August, the President will return by train to Bhubaneswar and fly back to New Delhi by a special Indian Air Force aircraft.
The meeting reviewed security, protocol, traffic management, medical preparedness, ambulance services, fire safety, road repairs and beautification at every venue — Lok Seva Bhawan, Jagadguru Kripalu University, Bhubaneswar and Brahmapur railway stations, and Taptapani. Special emphasis was laid on cleanliness and passenger amenities at the railway stations and on making the President’s special train journey completely secure and seamless.
Chief Secy Garg directed all departments to maintain perfect inter-departmental coordination and complete every arrangement within the stipulated timeline so that the visit of the Hon’ble President becomes a memorable success.
