DGP asks senior officers to begin preparations for Puri Rath Yatra
Bhubaneswar: Director general of police Y B Khurania has instructed senior officers to commence comprehensive preparations for the Puri Rath Yatra, set to observed on June 27.
Khurania presided over the initial preparatory meeting on Friday evening to ensure systematic organisation of the annual festival. The meeting was attended by several senior police officers, including Puri SP Vinit Agrawal.
Highlighting the importance of early planning, Khurania emphasised the need for proper security measures, crowd management and traffic control, considering the expected attendance of lakhs of devotees and VIPs at the festival.
“The meeting addressed various aspects including CCTV installation from Uttara Square to Puri, traffic management strategies, prevention of overcrowding, vehicle parking arrangements, VIP helipad facilities, police accommodation, systematic chariot pulling, barricading, coordination with district administration for issue resolution and devotee amenities,” the DGP said.
The discussions particularly emphasised crowd control measures to prevent any stampede during the chariot-pulling ceremony, police sources said.
Last year, a devotee died and more than 300 people fainted due to suffocation amid a crowd of around 10 lakh during the Rath Yatra on July 7. Around 6.30 pm, a disorderly situation near Lord Balabhadra’s chariot during the chariot pulling, resulting in injuries to several devotees who fell.
Over 6,500 police personnel, including 180 platoons, were deployed last year alongside AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones for maintaining security and managing crowds and traffic.
“We plan to use AI cameras and drones for traffic control this time too. Surveillance drones will capture aerial footage of traffic jams in CCTV blind zones, and enable quick deployment of monitoring teams to manage traffic flow. AI technology will be used to count vehicles and detect traffic snarls,” another senior police officer said.
Agrawal said comprehensive arrangements will be made for the festival’s smooth conduct. “I along with officers have been inspecting various sahis (lanes). Key discussions are being held on traffic management, auto-rickshaw restrictions, and community participation for a smooth and safe Rath Yatra 2025,” the SP said.
Khurania presided over the initial preparatory meeting on Friday evening to ensure systematic organisation of the annual festival. The meeting was attended by several senior police officers, including Puri SP Vinit Agrawal.
Highlighting the importance of early planning, Khurania emphasised the need for proper security measures, crowd management and traffic control, considering the expected attendance of lakhs of devotees and VIPs at the festival.
“The meeting addressed various aspects including CCTV installation from Uttara Square to Puri, traffic management strategies, prevention of overcrowding, vehicle parking arrangements, VIP helipad facilities, police accommodation, systematic chariot pulling, barricading, coordination with district administration for issue resolution and devotee amenities,” the DGP said.
The discussions particularly emphasised crowd control measures to prevent any stampede during the chariot-pulling ceremony, police sources said.
Last year, a devotee died and more than 300 people fainted due to suffocation amid a crowd of around 10 lakh during the Rath Yatra on July 7. Around 6.30 pm, a disorderly situation near Lord Balabhadra’s chariot during the chariot pulling, resulting in injuries to several devotees who fell.
Over 6,500 police personnel, including 180 platoons, were deployed last year alongside AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones for maintaining security and managing crowds and traffic.
“We plan to use AI cameras and drones for traffic control this time too. Surveillance drones will capture aerial footage of traffic jams in CCTV blind zones, and enable quick deployment of monitoring teams to manage traffic flow. AI technology will be used to count vehicles and detect traffic snarls,” another senior police officer said.
Agrawal said comprehensive arrangements will be made for the festival’s smooth conduct. “I along with officers have been inspecting various sahis (lanes). Key discussions are being held on traffic management, auto-rickshaw restrictions, and community participation for a smooth and safe Rath Yatra 2025,” the SP said.
