Ahmedabad Rath Yatra 2025: Sanghavi inspects 16.2-km route, 30,000 cops deployed
Synopsis
With the 149th Ahmedabad Rath Yatra just two days away, Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi personally walked the 16.2-km route — backed by 30,000 police, 100+ drones, AI facial recognition, and anti-drone guns. The scale of this year's tech-driven security deployment is unprecedented for the annual procession.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi inspected the 16.2-km Rath Yatra route in Ahmedabad on 14 July .
The 149th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is scheduled for 16 July (Ashadhi Beej), starting from the Jagannath Temple .
More than 30,000 police personnel deployed across 1,397 security points , 53 operational areas , and 26 ranges .
Security includes 100+ drones , AI facial recognition cameras , anti-drone guns , GPS tracking , and 3D mapping .
The procession will feature 3 main chariots , 18 elephants , 103 trucks , and 30 akhadas .
15 SRPF companies and 9 Central Armed Police Force companies provide additional security cover.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Tuesday, 14 July conducted a comprehensive inspection of the 16.2-kilometre procession route for the 149th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad, reviewing security arrangements with senior police and civic officials ahead of the annual religious procession scheduled for Ashadhi Beej on 16 July. The inspection signals that preparations have entered their final stage for one of the city's largest religious gatherings.
Security Deployment at Scale
Sanghavi was accompanied by Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut, and other senior officers during the route walk. The procession corridor has been divided into 26 ranges, 53 operational areas, and 1,397 security points.
More than 30,000 police personnel have been deployed, including 10 Inspector Generals and Deputy Inspector Generals, 42 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 88 Assistant Commissioners of Police. The force is further backed by 15 companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and nine companies of Central Armed Police Forces.
Smart Policing and Modern Technology
This year's security architecture marks a significant upgrade in surveillance capability. Sanghavi said authorities have deployed Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, 3D mapping, and advanced monitoring systems to make the arrangements 'foolproof.'
The technology stack includes live aerial surveillance through more than 100 drones, GPS tracking, CCTV cameras, decibel meters to monitor elephants, body-worn cameras, a high-tech wireless communication system, AI voice bots, anti-drone guns, and AI-based facial recognition cameras to identify suspects and wanted criminals along the route.
Procession Details and Community Outreach
The Rath Yatra will follow its traditional 16.2-kilometre route starting from the Jagannath Temple on 16 July. The procession will feature three main chariots, 18 elephants, 103 trucks, 30 akhadas, and several bhajan mandalis.
Sanghavi noted that over the past month, police held meetings with members of all communities and organised social activities to foster an atmosphere of brotherhood. He appealed to devotees to have darshan without pushing or jostling and urged them not to climb unsafe structures along the route.
Officials Present and Additional Activities
The inspection was attended by Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Member of Parliament Dinesh Makwana, MLA Kaushik Jain, city Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Prerak Shah, Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, and senior officials from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). During the programme, Sanghavi also distributed prizes to children who participated in a locally organised drawing competition.
With large crowds expected along the traditional route, authorities say the multi-layered security framework — combining manpower, technology, and community engagement — is designed to ensure the procession passes without incident.
Point of View
Anti-drone guns, and 3D mapping for a religious procession reflects how Indian state governments are increasingly treating large public gatherings as security infrastructure challenges rather than purely administrative ones. The 30,000-strong force for a single city event is significant — and the community outreach angle, while presented as goodwill, also signals that authorities are conscious of communal sensitivities along the route. Whether the technology layer genuinely improves crowd safety outcomes, or primarily serves as a visible deterrent, will be tested on 16 July.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra 2025?
The 149th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad is scheduled for 16 July 2025 on the occasion of Ashadhi Beej. The procession will begin from the Jagannath Temple and follow the traditional 16.2-kilometre route through the city.
How many police personnel are deployed for the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra?
More than 30,000 police personnel have been deployed, including 10 Inspector Generals and Deputy Inspector Generals, 42 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 88 Assistant Commissioners of Police. The force is supported by 15 SRPF companies and 9 Central Armed Police Force companies.
What technology is being used for Rath Yatra security in 2025?
Authorities have deployed over 100 drones for aerial surveillance, AI-based facial recognition cameras, anti-drone guns, GPS tracking, CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras, AI voice bots, 3D mapping, and decibel meters to monitor elephants. Officials describe the setup as a 'smart policing' model.
What does the Rath Yatra procession include?
The procession will feature three main chariots, 18 elephants, 103 trucks, 30 akhadas, and several bhajan mandalis along the 16.2-kilometre route. Large crowds are expected at multiple points along the traditional corridor.
Who conducted the Rath Yatra route inspection?
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi led the inspection on 14 July, accompanied by DGP G.S. Malik, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut, Mayor Hitesh Barot, MP Dinesh Makwana, and senior AMC and police officials.
