Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday reviewed preparations for the world-famous Puri Rath Yatra 2026 and directed all departments to complete arrangements well in advance of the festival scheduled in July.
This was the fourth review meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, that assessed the implementation of decisions taken in earlier reviews and evaluated the progress of ongoing preparations. According to an official release, senior officials from key departments, including Home, Law, Police and district administration, participated in the meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
Ensuring smooth and disciplined pulling of chariots was a key focus area. It was discussed that excessive entry of pass holders into the cordoned zone creates difficulties during the procession. To address this, the number of cordon passes is likely to be significantly reduced this year. The Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple informed that chariot construction began on April 20 on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, with a technical committee monitoring progress.
Out of the required 865 pieces of timber for chariot construction, 576 have already been procured, and the remaining collection is underway. The meeting also stressed ensuring the strength and durability of chariot ropes.
Infrastructure works linked to the festival are nearing completion. These include the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim centre, redevelopment of Acharya Harihar Square, multi-level parking at Digabareni and construction of Yatrika Parking-1. Restoration and renovation work at the Gundicha Temple is also progressing and expected to be completed before the festival, according to the release.
To improve public amenities, 50 high-mast lights will be installed along the Bada Danda for better illumination. Six bio-toilet blocks with 18 units will be set up along the Puri beach, while around 1,600 temporary toilets will be arranged at police camps, parking areas and public locations.
Preparations for handling heavy rainfall were also reviewed, with 23 locations identified for water drainage using high-capacity pump sets. Eviction drives along the Bada Danda are underway to facilitate smooth chariot movement and are expected to be completed by May. The Puri municipality has identified 21 parking locations for the festival.
The Health and Family Welfare Department is setting up eight temporary hospitals with 10 beds each at various locations to handle emergencies and reduce pressure on existing hospitals. The Puri-Konark road overbridge at Matiapada is in the final stage and is expected to become operational before the Rath Yatra, improving traffic flow.
The meeting also reviewed traffic management, deployment of police forces, installation of permanent and temporary CCTV systems, road repairs, sanitation measures and control room operations. The Railways will set up eight additional ticket counters to manage the expected surge in passengers.
To address congestion and sanitation issues, it was decided to regulate the distribution of free cooked food along the Grand Road. Designated locations will be identified nearby to facilitate such distribution without disrupting the chariot procession or affecting cleanliness
