Title - ECoR’s ‘special’ treatment draws flak

Highly-patronised passenger train being cancelled to run Rath Yatra specials

A popular passenger train is being cancelled from July 6 to 22 to facilitate the running of specials for the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. It’s a fact that lakhs of pilgrims from different parts of the country converge on Puri to participate in the annual festival of Lord Jagannath. But, does it warrant the cancellation of a highly-patronised daily passenger train, being operated by the Waltair Division, and inconvenience thousands of daily commuters?East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced the cancellation of train no. 58538/58537 Visakhapatnam – Koraput Passenger and train no. 58302/58301 Sambalpur – Koraput Passenger from July 6 to 22 to run special trains for the Rath Yatra.The Visakhapatnam – Koraput runs to full capacity everyday up to Rayagada after which the occupancy decreases between Rayagada and Koraput. While train no.58302/58301 has poor patronage and can be withdrawn to run a special, cancellation of a highly-patronised 58538/58537 is drawing flak from passengers.