Odisha Govt Reviews Civic Preparedness for Rath Yatra, Focus on Sanitation and Public Safety

Puri: With the annual Rath Yatra set to draw lakhs of devotees to Puri, the Odisha government has intensified preparations to ensure seamless civic services, sanitation and public safety during the festival.

A high-level review meeting was chaired by Housing & Urban Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee at the Circuit House in Puri on Friday to assess the readiness of the Urban Development Department and the Puri Municipal Corporation (PMC).

During the meeting, Padhee underscored the importance of coordinated efforts among all agencies to ensure smooth management of the mega religious event. She instructed officials to prioritise sanitation, public health, toilet facilities, parking arrangements, street lighting and other essential civic services while maintaining continuous monitoring and prompt emergency response throughout the festival.

Officials informed the meeting that desilting and cleaning of major drains across the city have been completed. Side drains along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) have also been cleaned with the support of the Jagrani Welfare Organisation. In addition, road repair and pothole restoration works have been completed ahead of the festival.

To address possible waterlogging during heavy rain, authorities have identified 30 vulnerable locations where high-capacity pump sets have been deployed for rapid drainage. Regular drives are also being conducted to remove stray cattle and maintain cleanliness across the pilgrim town.

PMC Commissioner Sneha Arugula presented the civic body’s preparedness plan, highlighting extensive sanitation measures and public awareness campaigns. She said strict action, including penalties, would be taken against those found violating cleanliness norms.

As part of traffic management, 24 designated parking areas have been identified to accommodate vehicles during the festival.

Authorities have also decided that only dry food will be distributed during Rath Yatra, while the serving of cooked food on the Grand Road has been prohibited to ensure hygiene and facilitate effective waste management. Signboards displaying information on food distribution centres, drinking water facilities, medical services and other public amenities will be installed across the city to guide devotees.

Padhee appreciated the efforts of the Puri Municipal Corporation and other departments for their coordinated preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the world-famous festival.