As the capital city prepares to welcome Goddess Durga across 195 puja pandals, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a strict seven-day deadline to officials to repair damaged roads and fix hazardous electrical issues near festival grounds.
The directives came following a high-level preparatory meeting for Durga Puja 2026, chaired by BMC Mayor Sulochana Das. The review brought together civic chiefs, police forces, utility boards, and representatives from various Durga Puja committees to coordinate a safe, clean, and seamless celebration.
Zero Tolerance for Infrastructure Hazards
Addressing long-standing concerns raised by puja committees regarding pothole-ridden roads, malfunctioning streetlights, low-hanging tree branches, and dangling wires, civic leadership promised immediate ground intervention.
To safeguard commuters and devotees, the civic body has placed an explicit freeze on fresh road excavations. Agencies such as GAIL, WATCO, and TPCODL (TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited) are restricted solely to completing repairs on roads that have already been dug up. Furthermore, TPCODL has been instructed to fix all loose and hanging electrical wires to eliminate hazards during festive processions.
Strict penalties will also be levied against agencies or individuals obstructing public spaces by dumping construction debris or building materials on roadsides.
40 Platoons of Police Deployed for Capital Security
To maintain law and order across Bhubaneswar’s busy streets, the Commissionerate Police has constructed a comprehensive security umbrella.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Saravana Vivek M, all 195 pandals have been categorised into A, B, and C groups based on crowd sensitivity and expected footfall.
Immersion & Festival Operations
To streamline festivities from start to finish, civic authorities have established 36 designated parking zones across the city to manage high-density traffic around major pandals.
For the final Visarjan (idol immersion), five temporary ponds have been constructed along the Kuakhai and Daya rivers. Approach roads leading to these immersion sites are being widened, with adequate high-mast lighting, JCBs, and heavy-duty cranes stationed on-site for smooth operations.
Authorities have also reiterated strict guidelines urging puja committees to maintain cultural decorum, explicitly banning obscene dance performances during celebrations and immersion processions.
