Ganjam was adjudged the best district for the third consecutive year, for utilising the Red Ribbon Express. The district mobilised 1,04,097 visitors to the AIDS awareness train which included 70,528 women when it chugged into the Berhampur railway station in July last year.
The award was announced after the Red Ribbon Express returned to Delhi on January 10. It covered 23 states and halted at 162 stations across the country during its year-long journey. Sources said to mark the completion of train’s journey, a closing function is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Wednesday when officials concerned from Ganjam would be feted for the success. The train had also visited Berhampur in 2008 and 2009. The district was awarded by the Central Government in 2010 and 2011 for best management of the exhibition train.