Odisha Gears Up for a Grand and Safe Rath Yatra in Puri

Bhubaneswar: With Puri’s world-renowned Rath Yatra drawing near, the Odisha government has ramped up preparations to ensure the smooth, secure, and seamless conduct of the grand annual event.

A high-level review meeting was held on Thursday afternoon at Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, bringing together senior officials from various departments to assess readiness and streamline coordination.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary stressed the importance of flawless execution. “Every aspect of the festival must be managed meticulously. All departments must work in close coordination, particularly the police and administrative machinery, to ensure public safety and smooth conduct of the Yatra,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Dr. Arabind Kumar Padhee, and Secretaries of key state departments. Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department Satyabrata Sahu, Principal Secretary of the Works Department, Puri Collector, and the Puri Superintendent of Police joined the meeting virtually to share updates from the ground.

With lakhs of devotees expected to converge on Puri for the spiritual spectacle, crowd management emerged as a central focus. Plans were reviewed for the installation of CCTV cameras at key junctions, deployment of a large number of police personnel, and operationalization of an Integrated Command and Control Center for real-time monitoring.

Officials also reviewed infrastructure preparedness, including the condition of the Grand Road (Bada Danda), the historic stretch where the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will be pulled by devotees. Updates were presented on the construction of the three chariots, with emphasis on ensuring their timely completion and safety during movement.

The administration is also working on designated parking facilities for vehicles and special arrangements for VIPs who are expected to attend the Yatra.