Odisha prepares a comprehensive crowd management and safety master plan for Rath Yatra 2026 in Puri, with CCTV monitoring, command center, transport support and emergency measures
OdishaPlus Bureau
The government of Odisha has developed a comprehensive master plan aimed at ensuring crowd management and safety for the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, as reported by officials on Wednesday.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired the second meeting of the Rath Yatra Coordination Committee on Tuesday evening at Lok Seva Bhawan, according to their statements.
During the meeting, Puri District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida and Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh presented the Rath Yatra Master Plan 2026 and requested the cooperation of various departments for the grand festival, an official noted.
“The master plan has been formulated based on previous experiences, particularly the mismanagement observed in 2025,” he remarked.
It is important to note that last year, three individuals, including two women, lost their lives and approximately 50 others were injured in a stampede during the Rath Yatra festival in Puri.This year’s Rath Yatra festival is scheduled for July 16, with the ‘Bahuda’ Yatra (return car festival) taking place on July 24.
During the coordination committee meeting, Arabinda Padhee, the chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, indicated that preparations were in progress, with the procurement of wood for chariot construction completed.
He mentioned that this year, a separate arrangement has been established for the “charamala” (a large wooden ladder used to lower deities from the chariots).
The previous stampede occurred when the wooden ladders were being moved near the Sri Gundicha Temple.
In the discussions, the chief secretary emphasized the need to complete Lord Jagannath’s rituals in time to ensure that the chariot pulling commences as scheduled, along with effective crowd management on Puri’s Grand Road (Bada Danda), parking provisions, healthcare services, emergency response, and sanitation measures.
DGP Y B Khurania recommended the installation of adequate CCTV cameras from Uttara Chhak to Bada Danda to facilitate effective crowd management.An integrated command control center will be set up to uphold law and order and manage crowds efficiently, another official stated.
The Information and Public Relations Department has been tasked with organizing the broadcast of the Rath Yatra rituals.Indian Railways will improve ticket counter services at Puri station and guarantee the availability of online tickets to facilitate better crowd management, he stated.
The Odisha Police has been tasked with establishing temporary parking areas at various sites, while the Emergency Department has been instructed to ensure the installation of 50 high-mast lights to illuminate Bada Danda.During the meeting, the Works Department committed to completing road repairs and maintenance ahead of schedule, the official mentioned.