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The Odisha government has announced a large security and public preparedness plan for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in Puri, scheduled to begin on July 16.
Rath Yatra Special Trains
East Coast Railway informed officials that around 400 special trains would run during the nine-day festival to handle the large number of pilgrims visiting Puri. More than six temporary ticket booking counters will also be opened outside Puri railway station for passengers.
Important Initiatives Taken by the Authority
• To ensure the safety of lakhs of devotees visiting the temple town, authorities plan to deploy nearly 220 police platoons. Special security teams from the National Security Guard (NSG), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also be stationed during the festival.
• Officials said anti-drone systems will be installed to stop unauthorized drone activity. Around 200 CCTV cameras will monitor the Badadanda, also known as the Grand Road, and other important locations. A 24-hour integrated control room with experts will handle crowd management, surveillance, and emergency response during the event.
• Preparations were reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Sudhansu Mohan Samal. Officials discussed important arrangements, including chariot construction, drinking water supply, electricity, healthcare, sanitation, transport, communication, traffic control, and law and order.
• During the meeting, concerns were raised about insufficient healthcare and power supply facilities. The administration instructed concerned departments to improve preparations quickly.
• To improve cleanliness and public health, authorities will cover open drains and carry out mosquito-control spraying. Along the Grand Road, 185 "Drink From Tap" water points and 26 mobile water tankers will be arranged. Around 1,600 temporary toilets will also be installed across the town.