Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu, who arrived in Bhubaneswar on Monday for a three-day visit to Odisha, is scheduled to travel from the state capital to Brahmapur aboard a special train on Tuesday, marking a rare rail journey by the Head of State during an official tour.
The travel arrangements feature a dedicated special train brought from New Delhi, which is expected to cover the distance in a little over two hours. To ensure absolute security, the President’s train will be escorted by another train throughout the route, with no other train traffic permitted on the same track while the convoy is in transit.
The President will take a scenic train journey, which will pass through Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.
Security operations are being managed under the supervision of the Railway SP alongside senior police officials, with three DSP and specialised teams deployed across key installations, while ensuring regular passengers face minimal disruption.
Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police personnel will provide layered security both on board and at stations along the route, including Lingaraj, Khurda, Nirakarpur and Balugaon. Movement of trains on platforms 1 and 2 at Bhubaneswar will be halted three hours prior to departure, with other services diverted to remaining platforms. Personnel will also be stationed at railway crossings and overbridges, and coordination has been established with the Forest Department to monitor wildlife movement in elephant-prone sections.
A high alert will be enforced two hours before the train’s departure, with special access arrangements for the President and thorough checks for the public.
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.
The Ganjam district administration has made extensive preparations, including declaring the area a no-flying and no-drone zone, restricting vehicle movement on key routes, and deploying substantial police forces, around 30 platoons in Brahmapur town alone. Infrastructure upgrades under a Rs 12 crore redevelopment project are underway to enhance bathing complexes, entrance gates and parking facilities, with locals expressing hope that the presidential visit will elevate the site’s national profile as a tourist destination.
After her programmes in Ganjam, she is also expected to have lunch at Panthanivas tourist guest house before proceeding to the Army Air Defence College at Golabandha for an overnight stay. She will return to Bhubaneswar by the special train on Wednesday, concluding her Odisha visit.
On Monday, The President was accorded a warm welcome at Biju Patnaik International Airport by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and other dignitaries after she arrived here around 2.45 pm. Later in the evening, she inaugurated Jagadguru Kripalu University in Kataka.
