Bhubaneswar: The Puri Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched one of its biggest-ever civic operations to ensure uninterrupted sanitation, drainage and public amenities for millions of devotees attending the Rath Yatra 2026.
Working in coordination with the district administration, Odisha Police, Fire Services and other departments, the civic body has deployed large-scale manpower, machinery and infrastructure across the holy city to maintain cleanliness and provide essential services during the annual festival.
Sanitation has remained the top priority, with overnight cleaning drives conducted along Bada Danda and the Gundicha Temple premises ahead of key rituals.
Dedicated sanitation teams and waste collection vehicles have also been stationed across major congregation points, including the Grand Road, temple surroundings, Beach Road and areas around the chariots, to ensure the timely removal of waste generated during food distribution and pilgrim activities.
PMC has deployed 1,451 sanitation workers, supported by 570 waste collection vehicles, 15 cesspool vehicles, and three mechanical road-sweeping machines to maintain continuous cleaning operations and scientific waste disposal throughout the festival.
To tackle waterlogging caused by monsoon rains, the civic body has operationalised 23 designated parking areas with dedicated maintenance teams and emergency construction materials.
A total of 38 dewatering pumps have been installed across vulnerable locations, supplemented by 50 additional pumps from the Fire Services Department and 10 high-capacity pump sets capable of removing nearly 3,000 litres of water per minute.
For the convenience of pilgrims, around 1,600 temporary toilets have been installed across parking zones, police accommodation camps and other high-footfall locations. These include FRP toilets, mobile toilet vans, urinal points, and facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.
The sanitation infrastructure is being monitored through geo-tagging, while dedicated cleaning staff remain on duty round the clock.
Nearly 3,000 temporary lights have also been installed across key locations to facilitate the safe movement of devotees, with maintenance teams deployed to respond quickly to technical issues.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said providing world-class civic services to devotees of Lord Jagannath remains the state government’s top priority.
He said coordinated efforts by various departments have ensured effective sanitation, waterlogging management, and uninterrupted public services despite heavy monsoon showers.
Meanwhile, anti-encroachment drives have been intensified to keep roads and pedestrian routes free from obstruction during the festival. As part of pre-event preparations, the authorities covered all identified drains deeper than three feet with concrete slabs, desilted more than 300 major drains, and completed extensive pothole repairs to facilitate the smooth movement of devotees and vehicles.
Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, said civic service delivery during this year’s Rath Yatra has been made more systematic, technology-driven, and accountable through continuous field monitoring, geo-tagging of sanitation infrastructure and round-the-clock deployment of sanitation personnel and officials.
The PMC said the extensive planning, resource mobilisation and inter-departmental coordination have helped maintain cleanliness, safety and efficient civic management during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
The civic body also acknowledged the efforts of sanitation workers, engineers, frontline staff and partner agencies for ensuring a hygienic and well-managed environment for pilgrims throughout the festival.
