Unsung sanitation workers keep Puri clean as lakhs throng Rath Yatra

Puri: While lakhs of devotees gather to witness the annual Rath Yatra, an equally massive civic operation is working behind the scenes to keep the holy city clean, safe and functional. Driven by the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, the Puri Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched one of its largest-ever sanitation and civic management drives, with sanitation workers leading round-the-clock efforts despite persistent monsoon showers.

Working in coordination with the district administration, police, fire services and other departments, PMC has deployed extensive manpower, machinery and public infrastructure to maintain cleanliness and ensure uninterrupted civic services throughout the festival.

Sanitation teams have been carrying out intensive overnight cleaning operations along Bada Danda and around the Gundicha Temple, while waste collection vehicles remain stationed across major congregation points, including the Grand Road, temple precincts and Beach Road, to ensure immediate removal of garbage generated during food distribution and other festival activities.

A total of 1,451 sanitation workers have been deployed for the festival, supported by 570 waste collection vehicles, 15 cesspool vehicles and three mechanised road-sweeping machines to maintain hygiene and scientific waste disposal across the city.

To tackle waterlogging caused by heavy rains, PMC has operationalised 23 parking areas with dedicated maintenance teams and deployed 38 dewatering pumps, along with 50 additional pumps from the Fire Services Department and 10 high-capacity pump sets capable of draining nearly 3,000 litres of water per minute.

The civic body has also installed around 1,600 temporary toilets, including Divyang-friendly facilities, across parking areas, police camps and other high-footfall locations. Nearly 3,000 temporary lights have been installed to facilitate safe movement of devotees, while sanitation infrastructure is being monitored through geo-tagging to ensure timely maintenance.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said providing quality civic services to devotees remains a top priority of the state government. He said coordinated efforts among various departments have ensured effective sanitation, drainage and essential public services despite adverse weather conditions.

Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Usha Padhee said technology-driven monitoring, geo-tagging of sanitation facilities and continuous field supervision have helped maintain high standards of cleanliness and civic service delivery during the festival.

Besides sanitation, PMC has undertaken anti-encroachment drives, covered deep drains with concrete slabs, desilted over 300 major drains and repaired potholes ahead of the festival to facilitate the smooth movement of pilgrims.

Officials said the combined efforts of sanitation workers, engineers, frontline staff and partner agencies have played a key role in ensuring that one of the world’s largest religious gatherings remains clean, safe and well-managed.