Ayodhya Welcomes Pilgrims: Over 1,000 Special Trains To Ply From Major Cities For Ram Temple Inauguration

To meet the large inflow of pilgrims for the inauguration of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, over 1,000 special trains will be pressed into service from 25 major cities for Ayodhya before 22 January.

The temple will be open to the public from 23 January, a day after the consecration of Lord Shri Ram’s idol.

Ayodhya specials will run from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Nagpur, Lucknow, Jammu, and other major cities.

According to the Railways, over 1,000 trains will be operational from different parts of the country to Ayodhya for around the first 100 days of the inauguration of the newly built Ram Mandir.

The trains will begin operating on 19 January, days ahead of the grand inauguration ceremony.

Besides, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Railways' public sector undertaking, is also gearing up to provide catering services for pilgrims around the clock during that time.

According to the IRCTC, several food stalls will be operational on the much-awaited occasion of the Ram Temple inauguration.

Besides the IRCTC, some charity organisations will be offering food and water to the visiting pilgrims.

All the railway zones have prepared to launch the Ayodhya specials to meet the heavy rush expected before 22 January.

The exact number of trains and the schedules are being worked out in consultation with the state administration, the Railways says.

According to the IRCTC, some trains are being booked as chartered services for Ayodhya by various pilgrim groups who are keen to witness the Ram Mandir inauguration.

Meanwhile, the Ayodhya railway station is expected to be ready by 15 January, barely a week before the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple.

Elaborate arrangements have been made at the revamped station to welcome pilgrims from all over the country.

Special arrangements have been made in coordination with the state administration to ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims at the entry and exit points of the station, said a railway official.

Provisions have also been made to meet emergencies, including medical.

The architecture of this railway junction is inspired by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple. The revamped station is expected to manage a daily footfall of around 50,000 persons.

Railway Ministry officials say the revamp of the Ayodhya station is nearing completion. The three-storey station building will have a 3,645-square-metre area, and there will be separate arrival and departure for passengers to facilitate hassle-free movement.

The facilities in the station building include 12 lifts, 14 escalators, food plazas, shops for puja needs, a cloakroom, a sick room, and infant care rooms.

The pilgrims visiting Lord Ram's birthplace will also have a new attraction as they can enjoy a ride in an electric catamaran on the holy Saryu River. The catamaran will have the capacity to accommodate 100 persons.