In a major push to promote religious and cultural tourism, the Odisha government, on Wednesday, launched the ‘Shree Jagannath Express’ as a premium interstate bus service connecting Puri to India’s most prominent pilgrimage and heritage destinations.

A part of the state’s broader effort to improve long-distance connectivity while promoting the spiritual and cultural significance of Shreekhetra (Puri), this initiative aims to offer comfortable and reliable transportation to devotees.

Sources mentioned that as part of the rollout, eight Super Premium OSRTC buses were flagged off, with five of them to operate directly from Puri. Further, these buses will ply between Puri and key spiritual centres including Ayodhya, Ujjain, Tirupati, Hyderabad, and Bhilai.

Route Map: Puri to Spiritual Heartlands

The new fleet under the Shree Jagannath Express brand will connect Puri to the holy cities and major transit points of Ayodhya, Ujjain, Tirupati, Bhilai, as well as Hyderabad. In addition, OSRTC will also operate services from Bhubaneswar to Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, enhancing Odisha’s long-range interstate mobility.

Women-Friendly and Affordable Fare Policy

A notable aspect of the scheme is its affordable and inclusive pricing model. While men will be charged Rs 2 per kilometre, women will benefit from a 50% concession, paying only Rs 1 per kilometre.

Focus on Comfort, Safety, and Smart Systems

Reports also added that these super-premium buses are designed to offer upgraded comfort, reliability, and punctuality to travellers and pilgrims.

Each bus is equipped with modern amenities to ensure a pleasant long-distance journey. Alongside the bus launch, the government has also introduced the Intelligent Enforcement Management System (IEMS) to improve monitoring, safety, and operational efficiency in interstate bus operations.

Puri at the Centre of Pilgrimage Connectivity

By positioning Puri, home to the revered Shree Jagannath Temple, as a transport hub, the state government is strategically linking one of India’s holiest cities with other major pilgrimage circuits. It is worth mentioning that these services will operate from the Puri Municipality Bus Terminal.

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With religious tourism continuing to grow post-pandemic, initiatives like these could set the tone for similar models in other states looking to elevate their spiritual destinations into well-connected tourism hubs.