THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
MAY 21, 2026
With the countdown to
the globally revered Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra entering its final phase, the
Odisha Police has launched an unprecedented security and crowd-management
operation to ensure a safe, seamless and spiritually enriching experience for
lakhs of devotees expected to converge in Puri from across India and abroad.
At a high-level
review meeting held at the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack on Thursday,
Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania issued firm directives to
senior officers to leave no room for lapses in security, traffic regulation,
emergency response and pilgrim management during the grand annual festival.
The sacred
festivities will commence with Debasnana Purnima on June 29, followed by
Nabajoubana Darshan on July 14, the iconic Rath Yatra on July 16, Hera Panchami
on July 20, Bahuda Yatra on July 24, Suna Besha on July 25 and conclude with
Niladri Bije on July 27.
Emphasising flawless
coordination at every level, DGP Khurania said the police machinery must
function with the same devotion and discipline associated with the rituals of
Lord Jagannath. “We must strengthen every layer of security and management.
Work in perfect coordination from the grassroots level so that not a single
lapse occurs anywhere,” he asserted during the review.
In a major push to
streamline crowd movement and traffic flow, Odisha Police announced several new
initiatives, including eight additional parking zones, dedicated traffic
corridors, road dividers and delineators across key routes. Special “clearance
parties” will accompany the chariots to ensure uninterrupted movement during
the procession, while specialised crack teams will be stationed at high-density
locations for rapid crowd control and emergency intervention.
Surveillance and
anti-crime measures are also being significantly enhanced. Additional CCTV
cameras will be installed at all critical points, while police stations across
the region have been directed to intensify crime-control operations, conduct
frequent hotel and lodge inspections and maintain strict vigilance over
suspicious activities. In a first-of-its-kind move, photographs of habitual
offenders from outside the state will be displayed on LED screens at railway
stations and bus terminals to strengthen preventive policing.
Security deployment
will extend beyond the temple town, with heightened arrangements planned at
major transit hubs including Puri, Bhubaneswar, Khordha and Jatni railway
stations in coordination with the Railway Protection Force. Coastal security
too has been tightened through intensified beach patrolling and temporary
police outposts along the shoreline.
To reinforce
preparedness against any untoward incident, Rakshak vehicles, K-9 squads,
NSG-trained Special Operations Group teams and Special Tactical Units will be
deployed throughout the festival period. Special emphasis has also been laid on
orderly darshan management, barricading systems, accident response and
real-time coordination with the district administration to ensure swift
handling of emergencies.
Senior officers
present at the meeting included ADG (Crime Branch) Binaytosh Mishra, Director
(Intelligence) R. P. Koche, ADG (Modernisation) Saumendra Kumar Priyadarshi and
ADG (Rail & Coastal Security) Arun Bothra, while Puri SP Prateek Singh and
several other officials joined the review virtually.
