Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 10 July chaired a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar to assess preparations for the annual Ratha Yatra in Puri, directing officials to ensure airtight security, seamless crowd management, and zero communication gaps during the festival. The meeting followed a similar review Majhi had conducted in Puri on 6 July, signalling the state government's heightened focus on the mega religious event.

Security Deployment and Surveillance

According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), approximately 12,000 police personnel along with an adequate contingent of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed across the festival zone. 19 senior IPS officers have been assigned to supervise overall security operations. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy will remain on standby alert to monitor and intercept any illegal activities along the coastal route.

To bolster surveillance, the state government has installed 473 CCTV cameras to track devotee movement across the festival area. An Integrated Command and Control Centre will oversee all security operations in real time.

Crowd Management and Infrastructure

Officials have put in place multiple evacuation corridors to handle large crowds. 65 large LED screens will broadcast important information to devotees in Odia, Hindi, and English. Help desks will be set up at Gundicha Temple to assist elderly and differently-abled pilgrims in accessing darshan without difficulty.

Infrastructure arrangements include 1,700 bio-toilets, eight temporary hospitals for healthcare services, high-mast lighting along the Grand Road, and dedicated parking facilities. Volunteers will be deployed to ensure regular cleaning of sanitation facilities throughout the festival.

Communication and Connectivity

The state has erected 16 permanent mobile towers and several temporary towers to strengthen connectivity during the event. Bulk messaging services will be used to push real-time information to devotees. Majhi stressed that information-sharing must be continuous and uninterrupted at every administrative level.

Reiterating the importance of coordination, the Chief Minister said, 'There should be a system for continuous sharing of information among officers and employees at every level to ensure the implementation of pre-determined decisions and to take necessary measures as required. Senior officers must ensure that there is no communication gap under any circumstances.'

Train Operations and Traffic Regulation

More than 300 special trains will operate to Puri during the Ratha Yatra period. Majhi directed officials to synchronise crowd management and passenger movement with train schedules to prevent bottlenecks. Traffic regulation and cordon management were also reviewed during the meeting.

Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Aravind Padhee and Additional Director General of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi presented detailed status reports on the preparations. With lakhs of devotees expected to converge on Puri, the administration's next critical test will be the seamless execution of these plans on the day of the festival.