Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday departed from Bhubaneswar railway station for Brahmapur aboard a dedicated presidential train brought from New Delhi, marking a rare rail journey by the Head of State during an official tour.
The President’s journey to Brahmapur takes a scenic route along Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, covering the distance in just over two hours.
Tight Security and Multi-Agency Operations
An extensive, multi-layered security grid has been activated along the entire Bhubaneswar–Berhampur line:
Escort Trains: Two additional special trains are escorting the presidential rake throughout the journey to secure the track and ensure an uninterrupted passage.
Track Clearance: No other train traffic is permitted on the same line while the convoy is in transit.
Platform & Station Controls: At Bhubaneswar railway station, operations on platforms 1 and 2 were halted three hours prior to departure, diverting other services to remaining platforms. High alerts and specialised access protocols were enforced two hours before departure.
Ground & Overhead Vigilance: Personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and Odisha Police have been stationed across key transit points, including Lingaraj, Khurda, Nirakarpur, and Balugaon stations, as well as railway crossings and overbridges.
Wildlife Monitoring: Security forces have coordinated with the Forest Department to monitor elephant corridors and prevent wildlife disruptions in sensitive forest stretches.
Senior police leaders and the Railway Superintendent of Police are directly overseeing the operation, supported by three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and specialised tactical teams, while ensuring minimum disruption for passengers.
Itinerary in Ganjam District
Upon arriving in Brahmapur, President Murmu will travel around 55 km by road to Taptapani, a scenic destination known for its natural hot sulphur springs nestled in lush forests, and offer prayers at the revered Maa Kandhuni Devi Temple. The shrine is a vital centre of spiritual and cultural devotion for local tribal communities.
Maa Kandhuni Devi, the presiding guardian deity, is revered for bestowing peace, prosperity, good health, and protection upon her devotees. While daily offerings of fresh flowers, coconuts, and incense fill the shrine with quiet devotion, grand festivals truly bring it to life, transforming the sacred space into a vibrant hub of tribal faith, resonating with traditional music, folk dances, and ancient rituals.
Following the shrine visit, she is scheduled to have lunch at the Panthanivas tourist guest house before proceeding to the Army Air Defence College at Golabandha for an overnight stay.
To safeguard the visit, the Ganjam district administration has deployed around 30 police platoons in Brahmapur town alone, declared key transit areas as no-flying and no-drone zones, and enforced targeted traffic restrictions.
Officials and locals express confidence that the visit will draw nationwide attention to Taptapani, which is currently undergoing a Rs 12-crore infrastructure redevelopment to enhance its bathing complexes, entrance facilities, and tourist amenities.
Overview of the Presidential Visit
President Murmu arrived in Bhubaneswar on Monday afternoon for her three-day visit to Odisha, where she was received at Biju Patnaik International Airport by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and senior state dignitaries. Later that evening, she inaugurated Jagadguru Kripalu University in Cuttack (Kataka).
She will return to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday aboard the special train to conclude her official tour.
