Special train to carry President from Bhubaneswar to Berhampur amid heavy security on Tuesday

President Droupadi Murmu is expected to arrive here on Monday afternoon for a three-day visit to Odisha, during which she will attend events in the districts of Ganjam and Cuttack.

Murmu's itinerary states that she will land at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here at approximately 2:10 pm, after which she will go to Damapada in the Cuttack district to officially open Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj University. She will go back to Bhubaneswar and spend the night at Lok Bhavan.

Traffic restrictions have also been imposed in the state capital from 2.10 pm to 2.45 pm on the route from Airport Square via Hospital Square and AG Square to Lok Seva Bhawan in view of the President’s visit. On Tuesday, the President will travel by train from Bhubaneswar to Berhampur in Ganjam district at around 9 am. For that, her special train will be escorted throughout the journey, and no other train will be allowed on the same track during the movement, an official said. Bhubaneswar and Berhampur railway stations have been placed under high security, with bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs and intensive baggage screening deployed.

Around 15 platoons of police personnel, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP), have been deployed at Bhubaneswar railway station, officials said. After reaching Berhampur, Murmu is scheduled to visit the Maa Kandhuni Devi shrine near the Taptapani hot spring in Sanakhemundi block to offer prayers.

She will stay overnight at the Army AD College in Golabandha and return to Bhubaneswar by train on August 5 before leaving for New Delhi aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft. According to a senior police officer, "the President's train journey has been arranged keeping in view the IMD forecast of rains."

According to an official, Odisha Police has implemented complex security measures in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Ganjam in compliance with the Blue Book protocol in collaboration with central agencies. Nearly 150 police officers and about 40 police platoons have been stationed in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, and SP-rank officers have been tasked with overseeing security at each location. According to officials, the President will be accompanied by commandos during her visit.