Bhubaneswar, 21 May (H.S.) : With the world-famous Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 scheduled to be held in Puri on July 16, the Odisha Police has intensified preparations to ensure the smooth, safe and orderly conduct of the grand festival. A high-level review meeting chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania was held at the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack on Thursday to assess security, traffic management, crowd control and disaster preparedness measures for the annual event.
During the meeting, DGP Khurania directed senior police officers to further strengthen all security and operational arrangements and ensure seamless coordination among various agencies at the ground level. He emphasized that every aspect of the festival’s management must be closely monitored to prevent any lapses and ensure a safe experience for lakhs of devotees expected to visit Puri.
According to the traditional schedule of the Rath Yatra, major rituals will commence with Deba Snana Purnima on June 29, followed by Nabajouban Darshan on July 14, the Rath Yatra on July 16, Hera Panchami on July 20, Sandhya Darshan on July 23, Bahuda Yatra on July 24, Suna Besha on July 25, Adharapana on July 26 and Niladri Bije on July 27. Given the anticipated influx of devotees from across India and abroad, the meeting decided to adopt enhanced and proactive security measures throughout the festival period.
To improve crowd management and ensure the safety of pilgrims, several new initiatives are being introduced this year. Eight additional parking areas have been identified to strengthen traffic management and facilitate smoother movement of vehicles. A dedicated clearance party will be deployed ahead of the chariots during the pulling of the Raths to ensure uninterrupted movement and maintain safety along the route.
Special crack teams will be stationed at vulnerable and high-density locations to strengthen security arrangements. Additional CCTV cameras will also be installed at key locations across the city for improved surveillance. Traffic regulation measures, including the deployment of road dividers, delineators and dedicated traffic zones, will be implemented to streamline vehicular movement and pedestrian management.
The DGP also directed the Superintendent of Police, Puri, to intensify crime prevention measures across all police station jurisdictions in the city. Regular inspections of hotels, lodges and other accommodation facilities will be conducted as part of the security drive.
Considering the possibility of habitual offenders from other states entering Puri during the festival period, police have been instructed to collect and circulate their photographs. Images of identified offenders will be displayed on LED screens at railway stations and bus terminals to assist law enforcement agencies in monitoring suspicious activities and preventing criminal incidents.
The meeting also discussed strengthening security along the coastline through intensified police patrolling and the establishment of temporary police outposts. Railway Police will make elaborate security arrangements at Puri Railway Station, as well as railway stations in Bhubaneswar, Khurda and Jatni. The DGP stressed the need for close coordination with the Railway Protection Force to ensure effective security management.
Additional security measures around the Jagannath Temple will include the deployment of security vehicles, K-9 squads, NSG-trained Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel and Special Tactical Unit (STU) teams. Special arrangements will also be put in place to prevent stampede-like situations and manage large congregations of devotees in a systematic manner.
The review further focused on emergency response mechanisms, disaster management preparedness and ensuring rapid inter-departmental coordination during any unforeseen situation. Discussions were also held on accommodation facilities for deployed police personnel, barricading arrangements, orderly chariot pulling, and measures to facilitate smooth darshan for devotees in coordination with the district administration.
The meeting was attended by senior officers from the Crime Branch, Intelligence Wing, Law and Order, Railway and Coastal Security, Communications, Modernisation and other police divisions. Regional police officials, including senior officers from Eastern Range and the Puri district administration, also participated through video conferencing.
Odisha Police reiterated that ensuring the safety of devotees, effective crowd management, seamless traffic movement and the peaceful conduct of Rath Yatra 2026 remain its highest priorities, with comprehensive
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
