Bhubaneswar, 14 July (H.S.): With lakhs of devotees expected to throng Puri for the annual Rath Yatra, the Puri Police on Tuesday issued a comprehensive traffic advisory, detailing special parking arrangements, route diversions and shuttle services to ensure smooth traffic management and hassle-free access to the Grand Road (Bada Danda).

The advisory covers the movement of two-wheelers, four-wheelers and regular buses entering Puri from the Bhubaneswar, Brahmagiri and Konark routes. Multiple parking zones have been earmarked at Old Jagannath Ballav, Matitota Playground, Matitota Helipad, Talabania, Samanga, Shree Setu and Sterling, with vehicles to be diverted to the next designated parking area once the previous facility reaches capacity.

According to the traffic plan, two-wheelers approaching from the Brahmagiri side will be permitted up to Old Jagannath Ballav Parking and Matitota Playground via Mangalaghat, before being diverted to the Matitota Helipad Ground through Shree Setu. Similar arrangements have been made for two-wheelers arriving from Bhubaneswar. Meanwhile, vehicles coming from the Konark side will be allowed up to the Blue Flag Beach and Nilachal Ashok Parking via Grid Station, Bhudan Chowk and CT Road.

For Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs), those arriving from Bhubaneswar will initially be directed to parking facilities in the Talabania area, including Bhudan Parking, OLA Guest House, Helipad, ITI College, Central School, Indoor Stadium, Horticulture Field and Hygienic Fish Market. Once these locations are filled, vehicles will be diverted sequentially to Shree Setu, Sterling Chhak and Samanga Parking. LMVs arriving from Brahmagiri will be directed to Samanga Parking, while vehicles from Konark will also be accommodated in the Talabania parking zones as per availability.

Regular bus services from Bhubaneswar and Konark will operate up to the Talabania Bus Stand through the notified routes, while buses arriving from Brahmagiri will terminate at Samanga Parking. In the event that Talabania parking reaches full capacity, buses will drop passengers near Bhudan Chhak before proceeding to the designated parking area near the Swami Narayan Temple.

To facilitate the movement of pilgrims from parking locations to the temple area, Puri Police has arranged dedicated shuttle services. Shuttle buses will operate between Helipad Chhak and Ram Mandir Chhak for devotees parking at Talabania. Additional shuttle services will connect Samanga Parking with the Shree Setu Overbridge and Sterling Chhak, while separate shuttle buses will also run between Sterling Chhak and Lighthouse Chhak.

Puri Police has appealed to devotees to strictly follow the notified traffic routes, park vehicles only at designated locations and cooperate with traffic personnel to ensure smooth vehicular movement and avoid congestion during the Rath Yatra festivities.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda