South Coast Railway Zone General Manager Sandeep Mathur toured six key stations—including Rajahmundry, Godavari, Kovvur, Samalkot, Tuni and Anakapalle—to assess passenger amenities, safety protocols and crowd‑management readiness ahead of Godavari Pushkaram 2027. The inspection also covered major ghats along the river to ensure smooth pilgrim movement.

मुख्य बिंदु (Key Takeaways)

  • Sandeep Mathur inspected six railway stations for Pushkaram readiness
  • Focus on passenger amenities, safety, cleanliness and crowd management
  • Coordination with state government and police for festival security

South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone General Manager Sandeep Mathur conducted a comprehensive field review on Saturday, inspecting stations, pilgrim access routes and bathing ghats along the Godavari River in preparation for Godavari Pushkaram‑2027. Accompanying him were Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager Mohit Sonakiya, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Ankush Gupta, Principal Chief Engineer BSK Rajkumar, Principal Chief Commercial Manager K. Sambasiva Rao, and Principal Chief Security Commissioner A.K. Sinha, along with other senior officials.

Station‑by‑Station Inspection

Mathur’s itinerary covered Rajahmundry, Godavari, Kovvur, Samalkot, Tuni and Anakapalle railway stations. At each location he examined passenger amenities, cleanliness standards, safety measures, crowd‑control mechanisms and overall infrastructure readiness. Notably, at Rajahmundry station he reviewed the ongoing redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, a ₹269‑crore project inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024.

Ghat Connectivity and Pilgrim Flow

The inspection extended to the river’s principal ghats—Pushkar Ghat, Markandeya Ghat, Shraddhanand Ghat, Saraswati Ghat and Gowthami Ghat—to gauge connectivity between the ghats, the Godavari River and the railway network. Ensuring seamless movement of pilgrims between these sacred sites and the stations is crucial for managing the massive influx expected during the festival.

Security and Emergency Preparedness

During a joint meeting with East Godavari Superintendent of Police D. Narasimha Kishore and other state officials, Mathur evaluated security arrangements, medical aid provisions, crowd‑management plans and inter‑departmental coordination. “We will work closely with the state government and law‑enforcement agencies to manage the expected heavy influx of pilgrims during Godavari Pushkaram,” Mathur said in an official release.

Local Demands and Future Train Halts

Member of Legislative Council Somu Veerraju appealed for additional halts for the Circar Express (17643/17644) and Simhadri Express (17239/17240) at Kovvur and Godavari stations. Mathur responded positively, indicating that future timetables will be adjusted to accommodate pilgrim traffic, thereby enhancing regional connectivity and supporting the local economy.