Bhubaneswar, February 17: Odisha's Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Tuesday chaired the second review meeting for the 2026 Puri Rath Yatra at Lok Seva Bhawan. The meeting followed up on the decisions from the first coordination meeting held on January 13, 2026, focusing on safety, traffic management, health services, and crowd control for the event.
The Rath Yatra schedule was confirmed, with the Gundicha Yatra on July 16, Bahuda Yatra on July 24, Suna Vesha on July 25, and Niladri Bije on July 27, 2026.
Plans for Akshay Trutiya and Snana Yatra, as well as wood procurement for the chariots, were also discussed.
The Puri District Collector Divyajyoti Parida and Police Commissioner Prateek Singh presented the 2026 Rath Yatra Master Plan, emphasizing the need for inter-department coordination. Key measures included installing CCTV cameras from Badadanda to North Chhak, setting up temporary parking, and installing 50 high-mast lights along Badadanda. Maintenance of roads and drainage, along with crowd control and emergency services, were also prioritized.
The meeting, attended by senior officials from various departments, stressed the importance of seamless coordination to ensure the safety and convenience of devotees during the festival.
