Nabarangpur, July 13 [UDN}: A district-level preparatory meeting was held this afternoon at the Mission Shakti Conference Hall in Nabarangpur under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate (General) Dr. Pramod Kumar Prusti to ensure that the upcoming holy Ghosa Yatra/Rath Yatra 2026 is conducted in a disciplined, safe, and harmonious manner.
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Prusti stated that Rath Yatra is one of the major religious and cultural festivals of the district. As a large number of devotees are expected to participate in the festival, he emphasized the need for proper coordination among all departments to complete the preparations smoothly and efficiently. He directed the concerned departments to give top priority to public safety, convenience, and uninterrupted darshan arrangements for devotees.
The meeting reviewed the progress of chariot construction and instructed that the work be completed within the stipulated time. The Works Department, Municipality, and Police Department were directed to ensure road repairs along the procession route, cleanliness, illumination, and other essential infrastructure facilities. It was also decided to finalize the procession route and complete all necessary arrangements well in advance.
To maintain law and order, adequate police personnel will be deployed, CCTV surveillance will be installed at sensitive locations, route marches will be conducted, and a well-planned traffic diversion strategy will be prepared and announced to the public beforehand.
For fire safety and disaster management, fire service teams and water tankers will remain on standby. The Electricity Department was instructed to inspect exposed wires and hazardous connections and ensure uninterrupted power supply during the festival.
For the convenience of devotees, the Health Department, Municipality, and Public Health Department were directed to establish first-aid centres, ambulance services, mobile health teams, drinking water facilities, temporary toilets, ORS distribution points, and shaded resting areas at important locations.
The meeting also emphasized coordination with the temple administration, servitors, and priests to ensure that all rituals and traditional ceremonies are conducted on time according to established customs. The District Culture Department was advised to provide opportunities for local artists to participate in cultural programmes organized during the festival.
Furthermore, under the “Swachh Rath Yatra” campaign, emphasis was placed on avoiding plastic usage, installing dustbins at appropriate locations, and carrying out immediate cleaning operations after the conclusion of the festival.
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