Bhubaneswar, 10 July (H.S.): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday reviewed the preparedness for the upcoming holy Rath Yatra at a high-level meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan. During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasised coordination, cooperation and continuous communication among all departments and officials for the smooth conduct of the annual festival.

The review meeting focused on key aspects including timely completion of rituals, safety of the chariots and devotees, crowd management, fire safety measures, traffic regulation and emergency response planning. The Chief Minister stressed that effective management by experienced officials would ensure a disciplined and well-organised Rath Yatra.

Reiterating the importance of coordination, Majhi directed senior officials to maintain continuous communication at every level and ensure that there is no communication gap during the festival. He also advised authorities to make comprehensive arrangements for cordon management, women’s safety, surveillance of suspicious activities and substance abuse, quality checks of food and drinking water, emergency evacuation plans and weather-related preparedness.

According to the meeting, around 12,000 personnel from Odisha Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed for security arrangements. The Coast Guard and Indian Navy will also remain on alert. As many as 19 senior IPS officers have been assigned to supervise the overall security arrangements for the Rath Yatra.

To enhance surveillance and provide real-time information to devotees, 473 CCTV cameras and 65 large LED screens will be installed. The screens will display important announcements in Odia, Hindi and English. To strengthen mobile connectivity, 16 permanent telecom towers along with several temporary towers have been arranged. A bulk messaging system will also be used to disseminate important information among visitors.

Special arrangements have been planned for differently-abled and elderly devotees visiting Gundicha Temple. Help desks will be set up to facilitate their darshan. Multiple evacuation corridors have been created for effective crowd management, while an integrated Command and Control Centre will oversee all security-related operations.

For better management of the festival, dedicated officers have been assigned responsibility for every aspect of Rath Yatra arrangements. Parking facilities and high-mast lighting along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) have also been arranged. Around 1,700 bio-toilets will be installed exclusively for the festival, with volunteers assigned for their maintenance. Additionally, eight temporary hospitals will be set up to provide immediate medical assistance to devotees.

This year, more than 300 trains are expected to operate to Puri during Rath Yatra. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure proper coordination with railway authorities, provide timely information to passengers and manage the expected crowd flow efficiently.

During the meeting, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Padhee and Additional Director General of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi presented detailed updates on the arrangements.

The meeting was attended by Works and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Chief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner D.K. Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Information & Public Relations Department Hemant Sharma, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, Director General of Fire Services Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Shashwat Mishra, senior government officials, police officers, Puri District Collector and Superintendent of Police, among others.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda