Bhubaneswar, April 12: The Lingaraj Temple administration is gearing up to ensure a smooth Rukuna rath yatra to be held on Thursday.

The car festival of Lord Lingaraj, hosted on Ashokashtami, draws a huge crowd. The administration held a meeting with servitors and reached upon a consensus on the yatra schedule. Lord's pahandi will be over by 2pm and the chariot-pulling will begin at 4pm.

"We want devotees to watch the proceedings safely. Steps are being taken to ensure that all rituals are conducted on time. The sahan mela darshan will start at 5.30am and continue till 6.30am," said Lingaraj Temple Trust's executive officer Kelucharan Ransingh.

Last year, the chariot could only be pulled at 5pm, because of which it could not reach its destination, the Rameswar temple, on that day.

Adequate steps have been taken to ensure availability of water and shades. "Water will be frequently sprinkled on the devotees and water pouches will also be provided. We have also instructed local shop owners to make sure that elderly persons and women can take rest inside the shops when they get tired," said Ransingh.

More than 17 platoons of police will be deployed at various places around the temple and along the road through which the chariot will pass on. The police will block the approach roads to the temple. Commuters will be directed to diversions.

"Our primary concern would be maintaining law and order along with providing security to the devotees," said deputy police commissioner Satyabrata Bhoi.

The bahuda yatra will be held on April 18.

Around 40 carpenters have built the chariots. The neta ustav (flag ceremony), where the chariot will be ceremonially purified by the priests and a flag will be fixed on top of it, will be held tomorrow evening.