Bhubaneswar: A preliminary preparation meeting for the upcoming Puri Rath Yatra 2025 of Lord Jagannath was held today at the Lok Seva Bhavan conference hall. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja. According to an official press release, the meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department Satyabrata Sahu, Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania, Puri Collector, Puri Superintendent of Police, and other senior officials from the State Police Administration. The meeting focused on crowd management, congestion control, and security arrangements for the grand festival, which attracts millions of devotees and tourists.
Given Puri’s status as a major religious and tourist destination, large crowds are expected at Jagannath Temple, Puri Grand Road, Puri Beach, and especially at Gundicha Temple during the Rath Yatra. To address these challenges, the Police Administration has proposed installing CCTV cameras at 343 key locations, covering roads leading to Puri, city entry points, Grand Road, and Puri Beach. The surveillance system will enable real-time monitoring for traffic management, crime prevention, and law enforcement.
Specific locations proposed for CCTV installation include Uttara Chhak to Malatipatpur, Puri Grid Station to Konark, Balighai to Nimapada, Mangalaghat to Satapada, Malatipatpur to Mangalaghat, Mangalaghat to Grand Road, Grand Road to the seashore, parking areas, bus stands, railway stations, and inner lanes of Puri city. Chief Secretary Ahuja emphasized the need for a strong infrastructure and technical expertise to make sure the CCTV system meets national security standards. He directed the Police Administration and the Puri District Collector to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Rath Yatra management.
During the meeting, it was decided to operate an Integrated Command and Control Center during Rath Yatra 2025, where officials from multiple departments will coordinate efforts focusing on safety, crime control, crowd management, and emergency response. The Puri Collector and Superintendent of Police presented insights from Rath Yatra 2024, highlighting past crowd management strategies and challenges. Senior officials also shared recommendations for improving execution for 2025. The meeting underscored the importance of having an integrated public address system to facilitate smooth communication during the festival.
Key dates for Puri Rath Yatra 2025 include Debasnan Purnima on June 11, Gundicha Yatra on June 27, Bahuda Yatra on July 5, and Suna Besha on July 6. Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu underscored the need for inter-departmental coordination, emphasizing continuity of management from the Chandan Yatra to the Niladri Bije to guarantee the festival’s smooth execution.
DGP Khurania noted the increasing devotional fervor and the larger crowd expected for 2025. He stressed the importance of early and adequate preparations to effectively manage the surge of pilgrims. The meeting also discussed vehicle movement and parking management strategies, aiming to prevent traffic congestion during the festival.
Meanwhile, another report reveals the state government intends to implement crowd management strategies akin to those observed during the Maha Kumbh for the Puri Rath Yatra. An Odisha police team recently visited Prayagraj to study security protocols, crowd management, and crime prevention techniques at the Maha Kumbh.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, along with Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu and DGP Y.B. Khurania, discussed these security arrangements and crowd control measures, drawing parallels with the management practices from the Maha Kumbh. Given the anticipated attendance of over 10 lakh devotees, Ahuja stressed the importance of extensive CCTV surveillance, indicating, "real-time monitoring and crowd management will be key for the festival's success," as reported by the Chief Secretary's office.
The government plans to deploy advanced facial recognition cameras at 343 locations. Installation sites will include 32 spots along NH-316 between Uttara and Malatipatpur, 65 locations on the beach, 38 places on Grand Road, and 55 points within Puri's internal lanes. A committee is set to determine the camera specifications under the Chief Secretary's directive, which pertains to ensuring cohesive crowd management through enhanced security measures.
Ahuja instructed the Puri administration and police to collaborate on developing a joint Standard Operating Procedure for the smooth conduct of the chariot festival. DGP Khurania reiterated the importance of comprehensive security measures for the festival, keeping the expected turnout of devotees and VIPs in mind. "Our team observed the Maha Kumbh arrangements by the Uttar Pradesh police. Traffic management strategies, preventing overcrowding, vehicle parking arrangements, and VIP helipad facilities will be prioritized," Khurania noted.
The police assured citizens about stringent measures to prevent stampedes during the chariot-pulling ceremony. Previous Rath Yatra events have seen unfortunate incidents; last year, one person died and over 300 people fainted due to suffocation amid the crowd of around 10 lakh, following chaos near Lord Balabhadra's chariot.
Last year, over 6,500 police personnel, including 180 platoons, were deployed, supported by AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones for security and crowd management. The intention is to learn from past experiences and implement more stringent measures to guarantee the safety of everyone involved during the 2025 Rath Yatra.