Puri: With the world-famous Rath Yatra scheduled for June 27, the Puri district administration has begun preparations to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and smooth celebration. A preliminary meeting chaired by Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain was held to discuss and finalize arrangements for the grand festival.
The administration plans to launch a dedicated app to provide real-time information about facilities and services to devotees. This initiative aims to address last year’s shortcomings and ensure a seamless experience for pilgrims.
During the meeting, officials from various departments discussed critical aspects such as crowd management, uninterrupted electricity supply, drinking water availability, sanitation, and law enforcement. Special attention was given to managing the intense summer heat, with directives issued to ensure adequate water supply and hydration stations along the procession route.
The Works Department has been instructed to repair roads connecting the Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple and other key routes, including the Grand Road. Additionally, the Puri Municipality has been tasked with cleaning drains and maintaining cleanliness throughout the festival.
To manage the massive influx of devotees, the police administration is focusing on crowd control, traffic management, and ensuring smooth darshan (viewing of the deities). This year, AI-powered cameras will be deployed for enhanced crowd and traffic monitoring, as announced by the Superintendent of Police.
The meeting, held at the Circuit House, was attended by senior officials from various departments, including SP Vinit Agrawal and representatives from the Jagannath Temple administration.
