Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the New Year 2026 celebrations, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Central Range, held a review meeting with senior police officers of Puri district to assess and finalise police arrangements for the safe and orderly observance of December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
The review focused on security, traffic regulation, crowd management and emergency preparedness, with particular attention to Puri town, the Shree Jagannath Temple and the sea beach areas, which are expected to witness heavy footfall during the festive period.
Police authorities expect between 3.5 and 4 lakh devotees to visit the Shree Jagannath Temple during the two-day period. In view of the anticipated rush, extensive security and crowd control measures have been put in place. As many as 60 platoons of police personnel have been deployed, supported by 10 additional Superintendents of Police, 33 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 62 inspectors and 245 sub-inspectors to ensure effective crowd regulation and law and order management.
The arrangements also include the deployment of lifeguards along the sea beach and the positioning of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Special Task Force units at strategic locations to respond swiftly to any emergency. Surveillance has been strengthened with the activation of CCTV cameras and control rooms, which will function round the clock from December 29, 2025, to January 1, 2026, to monitor crowd movement and traffic flow in real time.
Special traffic and parking plans have been drawn up to minimise congestion, with multiple designated parking zones and contingency measures in place. Barricades and public address systems have been installed at key points to regulate the entry of devotees into the temple and ensure smooth and orderly movement of crowds.
Preventive steps are also being taken to maintain public order, including action under the National Security Act against antisocial elements and intensified drives to seize contraband. The Odisha Police have appealed to devotees, tourists and residents to cooperate with the authorities, follow issued advisories and celebrate the New Year responsibly, reiterating that public safety and security remain the top priority during the festive period.
