Odisha government on alert regarding Puri Rath Yatra
Odisha: The Odisha government has intensified extensive preparations for the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. Given the expected arrival of millions of devotees each year for this religious event, the state’s Housing and Urban Development Department has placed special emphasis on strengthening civic amenities, sanitation, and public safety. The government’s aim is to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience and that the entire event is conducted smoothly and safely.
Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, chaired a high-level meeting at the Circuit House in Puri on Friday. The meeting comprehensively reviewed the preparations of the Urban Development Department and the Puri Municipal Corporation (PMC). Officials were directed to submit reports on the current status of various arrangements and the improvements to be undertaken in the coming days.
The review meeting with officials focused on managing the massive crowds expected during the Rath Yatra, traffic control, and the smooth functioning of civic services. The Additional Chief Secretary clarified that this event is one of the largest religious events not only in Odisha but in the country, and therefore, any negligence will not be acceptable.
He stated that cleanliness, public health, and basic civic amenities must be given top priority, given the large gathering of millions of devotees. He directed that cleanliness be maintained throughout the event area and that garbage should not accumulate anywhere.
He also emphasized the need to ensure the availability of public toilets and their regular cleaning. Officials were instructed to arrange for adequate mobile and permanent toilets in crowded areas to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience.
Parking arrangements were also discussed in detail at the meeting. Officials were instructed to create separate parking zones for smooth movement of vehicles and to plan in advance to avoid traffic jams. Instructions were also given to increase the deployment of traffic police on major routes.
Emphasis was also placed on strengthening the street lighting system to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience at night. The concerned departments were instructed to take immediate action to ensure adequate lighting on all major routes, ghats, and crowded places.
The meeting also stated that health services should be fully activated during the Rath Yatra. Medical teams and ambulance services were instructed to be ready to deal with any emergency. Furthermore, the establishment of first aid centers in crowded areas was also considered.
Usha Padhi directed officials to maintain a 24-hour surveillance system throughout the Rath Yatra period. All activities should be monitored through the control room, and immediate action should be taken in case of any emergency.
She also emphasized the importance of coordination between all departments to ensure prompt resolution of any problems. The police, municipal corporation, health department, and transport department have been instructed to work together.
The administration believes that this year, more devotees may participate in the Rath Yatra than in previous years, so preparations are being made on an even more extensive scale. Plans are also being made to deploy additional forces for crowd management and security.
The local administration has also appealed to devotees to follow the administration’s guidelines and cooperate in maintaining order. Officials say this is a collective effort, in which both the administration and the public play an important role.
Overall, the Odisha government has intensified preparations to ensure a safe, clean, and orderly Puri Rath Yatra. The administration’s entire focus is on ensuring a smooth and safe religious experience for the millions of pilgrims who are expected to visit.
