Puri: The Odisha government on Tuesday reviewed preparations for the world-famous Rath Yatra during the second coordination meeting held under the chairmanship of Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, with officials stressing a “zero-error” and incident-free conduct of the annual chariot festival.
Chairing the meeting, the minister directed all departments to complete their assigned works well before the commencement of the Rath Yatra and emphasised seamless coordination among agencies.
A comprehensive security plan has been put in place for the festival. Around 220 platoons of police personnel will be deployed, while five-tier security arrangements will remain in force from Snana Purnima to Niladri Bije. Extensive CCTV surveillance, dedicated control rooms and strict monitoring of crowd management, traffic regulation and law-and-order situations have also been planned. A special NSG team will be deployed during the festival, senior police officials informed.
The Health Department has made elaborate arrangements for devotees, including additional beds at the District Headquarters Hospital and the establishment of a special burn unit. Thirty first-aid centres and two casualty centres will be set up along the Grand Road (Bada Danda), supported by a large fleet of ambulances.
Officials said food inspectors will conduct water quality testing and intensify checks to prevent food adulteration across the city during the festival period.
On the transport front, the Railways will operate 370 special trains and open additional ticket counters to manage the expected influx of pilgrims. Parking facilities are also being strengthened.
The Energy Department has assured uninterrupted electricity supply through three grid stations and will provide lighting arrangements at key locations. Streetlights and LED illumination will be installed across the city.
Reviewing civic infrastructure, the minister directed officials to ensure the cleaning of all drains before the festival. High-capacity pumps will be deployed for water drainage, while more than 1,600 toilets will be installed at different locations for public convenience.
The Puri Municipal Corporation has also announced accident insurance coverage for devotees during the nine-day festival period within its jurisdiction.
Officials informed the meeting that construction of the three chariots is progressing smoothly and all essential materials, including ropes, jhuna, cordon ropes, basunga cloth, anabasara gamuchha and sandalwood, are available.
Ministers and senior officials from various departments attended the meeting and reviewed preparedness across sectors. The government said extensive planning and advance coordination have been undertaken this year to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the internationally renowned festival.
