Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar to assess the preparations for the upcoming holy Ratha Jatra. Following a previous review conducted in Puri on July 6, the Chief Minister held this detailed follow-up meeting to ensure seamless execution of the festival. He laid strong emphasis on mutual cooperation, coordination, and continuous communication among all departments, advising senior officials to ensure there are no communication gaps under any circumstances.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted several critical aspects, including the timely completion of rituals, the safety of the chariots and devotees, effective crowd management, and fire safety measures. He maintained that the festival can be conducted in an orderly and systematic manner under the supervision of efficient and experienced officers. He also instructed officials to focus on cordon management, the safety of women, monitoring suspects and substance abusers, traffic regulation, quality checks for food and drinking water, emergency evacuation planning, and weather-dependent action plans to make the entire arrangement foolproof.
Security and infrastructure arrangements presented during the meeting reveal a massive deployment for the mega event. Around 12,000 police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order, while the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have been placed on alert. To supervise the massive security apparatus, 19 senior IPS officers have been assigned specific responsibilities.
For real-time surveillance and public assistance, 473 CCTV cameras have been installed across strategic locations, and 65 large LED screens will broadcast essential instructions in Odia, Hindi, and English. Telecommunication has been strengthened with 16 permanent and several temporary mobile towers, alongside a bulk messaging system to update devotees.
The administration has also prioritised convenience, sanitation, and healthcare. Special help desks will be functional at the Gundicha Temple to assist elderly and differently-abled devotees. For emergency situations, multiple evacuation corridors have been established, all monitored via an Integrated Command and Control Centre. Dedicated officers have been assigned to oversee every minute arrangement, including parking and high-mast lighting along Badadanda. Sanitation facilities have been boosted with 1,700 bio-toilets, where one volunteer will be responsible for keeping every five toilets clean. Additionally, eight temporary hospitals have been set up to provide immediate medical care.
With over 300 special trains scheduled to run to Puri during the festival, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure timely dissemination of information and manage the incoming crowd effectively in sync with train arrivals.
The detailed status report was presented by the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, Dr. Arabinda Padhee, and Additional Director General of Police, Soumendra Priyadarshi. The meeting was attended by Law and Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Advisor to the Chief Minister Prakash Mishra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner D.K. Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Information and Public Relations Hemant Sharma, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, Director General of Fire Services Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Saswat Mishra, along with secretaries of various departments, the Puri District Collector, and the Superintendent of Police.