Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan today to review preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra.
He emphasised coordination, communication, and flawless management among officials to ensure smooth conduct of the festival.
The meeting discussed crowd control, safety, fire services, food and water quality, traffic arrangements, and emergency evacuation measures. The Chief Minister advised senior officers to prevent communication gaps and maintain constant updates across all levels.
Security arrangements include deployment of 12,000 police and CAPF personnel, with Coast Guard and Indian Navy on alert. Nineteen senior IPS officers will oversee security. The plan features 473 CCTV cameras, 65 LED screens providing information in Odia, Hindi, and English, and 16 permanent telecom towers with additional temporary towers. Bulk messaging will be used to inform devotees.
Facilities for devotees include 1,700 bio-toilets, eight temporary hospitals, and help desks at Gundicha Temple for elderly and differently-abled pilgrims. Evacuation corridors and a coordinated command-and-control centre will manage crowd flow. Volunteers will maintain sanitation at bio-toilets.
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of structured parking, high-mast lighting at Bada Danda, and timely dissemination of train schedules as over 300 trains are expected to bring pilgrims to Puri.
Senior officials, including Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Dr Arabinda Padhee, DGP Y.B. Khurania, and other top bureaucrats and police officers attended the meeting.
