The SCoR General Manager inspects the Godavari Pushkaram arrangement

South Coast Railway Zone General Manager Sandeep Mathur inspects Saraswati ghat of Godavari river at Rajamahendravaram on Saturday. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

South Coast Railway Zone General Manager Sandeep Mathur on Saturday inspected the railway stations, pilgrim access roads and bathing ghats along the Godavari river to review the operational readiness for Godavari Pushkaram-2027.

Accompanied by Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada Mohit Sonakiya and senior officials including Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Ankush Gupta, Principal Chief Engineer BSK Rajkumar, Principal Chief Commercial Officer K. Sambasiva Rao and Principal Chief Security Commissioner AK Sinha, Mr. Mathur inspected Tu Rajahmundry, Kovpalv, Anakotal Godava Samni stations. The review focused on passenger amenities, security, cleanliness, crowd management and infrastructure readiness.

Mr. Mathur also conducted a tailgate inspection on the railway lines between Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry to assess operational safety and condition of railway assets.

As part of the inspection, he visited Pushkar Ghat, Markandeya Ghat, Shraddhanand Ghat, Saraswati Ghat and Gowthami Ghat to assess the connectivity and movement of pilgrims between the ghats and Godavari and Rajahmundry railway stations.

At the Rajahmundry Railway Station, Mr. Mathur reviewed the ongoing redevelopment work being carried out under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the ₹269 crore redevelopment project in February 2024.

During a meeting with East Godavari Superintendent of Police D. Narasimha Kishore and other state government officials, Mr. Mathur reviewed the security arrangements, medical assistance, crowd management plans and inter-departmental coordination of the festival.

“We will coordinate with the state government and law enforcement agencies to handle the expected heavy influx of pilgrims during Godavari Pushkaram,” Mr. Mathur said, according to an official statement.

The CEO also collaborated with MLC Somu Veerraju who urged the railways to stop Circar Express (17643/17644) and Simhadri Express (17239/17240) at Kovvur and Godavari railway stations.

Published – 11 Jul 2026 19:39 IST