Puri: The state government has made elaborate arrangements to ensure devotees have a smooth darshan of Srimandir deities during the Rath Yatra. While chairing the second Rath Yatra coordination meeting at Town Hall here Wednesday, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan directed the Health administration to set up dedicated beds for heatstroke and burn victims, and deploy an adequate number of doctors and other support staff for emergency needs. Railway sources said about 150 pairs of special trains will ply to the Holy City during the festival.
Besides, bus services to Puri will also be increased to meet the demands of devotees. As many as 18 temporary parking lots will be developed for buses at different places in the town and downtown areas. This apart, the Law minister asked officials to ensure supply of drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, illumination of Grand Road and other places of the town, and to streamline the transport system. CCTVs will be installed at various strategic places to monitor the crowd from an integrated control room. Hundreds of lifeguards will be deployed along the beach to prevent drowning. Coast Guard vessels will patrol along the coast during the festival, while adequate police personnel will be deployed on the Parikrama Marg.
Special arrangements will be made as President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to visit Puri for witnessing the car festival. Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Additional Director General of Police Sanjay Kumar, Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, SJTA Chief Administrator Vir Vikram Yadav and senior servitors were present in the meeting. The annual car festival is scheduled to commence July 7. This year, Netra Utsav, Nabajouban darshan, and Rath Yatra have been clubbed together.