Security forces escort the three chariots ahead of rath yatra celebrations in Puri on Tuesday. Picture by Sarat Patra

Arrangements for rath yatra are complete. The chariots, the path and devotees are all set to experience a rendezvous with the Trinity with everyone ready for their own role in the rituals.

Since 12 lakh to 15 lakh devotees are expected to visit the festival, tight security arrangements have been made following serial explosions at Mahabodhi temple in Bihar’s Bodhgaya.

Puri superintendent of police Anup Kumar Sahoo said more than 104 platoons of police forces would be deployed at various places in the town and on different routes for security, traffic and crowd management during the festival. Besides, six platoons of rapid action forces, 2,200 home guards and around 600 officers will be deployed at various locations on the days of Gundicha yatra, bahuda yatra and suna vesha.

“We have arranged for every possible way to thwart any kind of security threats. Dog squads, bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage squads are fully prepared to tackle any kind of untoward incidents. Armed forces will also be positioned on high-rises and they will keep vigil on the crowd. Plain-clothed cops will also be deployed among the crowd,” said Sahoo.

He said attempts had been made to fortify the marine and air surveillance in the coastal town. Besides, the coast guard has been roped in to thwart any kind of security threats from the sea. Coast guard will patrol the sea and keep vigil on the shore. A helicopter will be pressed into service for aerial patrolling over the town and its adjoining areas.

Besides, vehicles will be checked at all the entry and exit points in and around Puri. The hotels and motels have been asked to install closed-circuit television cameras and check the identity proofs of their guests.

Sahoo also said closed-circuit television cameras had also been installed at the Jagannath temple and over 34 such surveillance cameras would be installed at various strategic locations to keep vigil on the crowd.

The police said the chariots would be barricaded in three stages and only those people with cordon passes will be allowed entry near the raths. An official said the National Cadet Corps (NCC) students of various colleges would also co-operate with the police forces in the crowd and traffic control.

Considering a large congregation of devotees at Puri railway station, around 550 Railway Protection Force personnel, sniffer dogs and the Government Railway Police consisting up 750 officers and jawans will be deployed round the clock. Besides, 300 home guards will assist them. Twenty-four CCTV cameras will be installed at the railway station to keep a close watch on criminal elements.

Over 100 lifeguards have been deployed on the beach to rescue people from drowning in the sea. Besides, CCTV surveillance on the beach will ensure tight security and help locating if anyone drowns in the sea.

Watchful in Bhubaneswar

Around 30 platoons of police will be deployed here on the occasion of rath yatra tomorrow. The police will manage the crowd and the traffic with more than 40 chariots scheduled to roll out in the city.

The traffic police have set up five control rooms at Rasulgarh Square, Kalpana Square, Museum Square, Daya Bridge and Baramunda Square. Traffic personnel will also be deployed near Saptasati Square for smooth traffic flow from the newly constructed bypass road.

The police have cut the median in front of the Iskon Temple to allow the chariots to avoid the under-construction flyover near the temple. Officials said the stretch of NH-5 between Nayapalli Square and CRP Square would be blocked for vehicular movement when the chariots are pulled.

The vehicles coming from the Fire Station side will turn left at CRP Square, while those coming from Jayadev Vihar will be diverted from Nayapalli Square.

Besides, the road connecting CRP Square to DAV School at Unit-VIII and to the Mausima temple will be blocked during the chariot pulling. Traffic constables will be deployed at each approach road to divert vehicles.

“Adequate traffic personnel would be deployed keeping an eye on heavy vehicular movement towards Puri. Our main focus will be on the NH-203,” said assistant commissioner of police (traffic) Binod Das. Security will be beefed up at the Bhubaneswar railway station for the rath yatra.

Sources in the Railway Protection Force (RPF) said additional armed guards would be deployed at the entry and exit gates and booking counters.

“Bags will be scanned at the station,” said a senior RPF official.

Rath yatra at Patia village, which used to be a princely estate during the British rule, will be one of the major attractions in the city. The festival, which had been stopped for 78 years, resumed in 2010.

“We have been waiting eagerly for the rath yatra. Since 2010, it has become our main festival,” said Rakesh Mohanty, a resident of Patia.