Puri, 12/1 : With the holy city bracing for a massive influx of devotees for the upcoming Makar Sankranti and the famous Magha Saptami Mela, the Odisha Police has finalized a robust security strategy to ensure hassle-free darshan and law and order. A high-level review meeting was held today, chaired by the DIG (Central Range) Dr. Satyajit Naik and attended by Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Prateek Singh, Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, and senior temple administration officials.
The meeting comes on the heels of a minor disruption in darshan earlier this month, prompting authorities to leave no stone unturned. “Our primary objective is to ensure the safety of devotees while maintaining the sanctity of the rituals,” stated SP Prateek Singh during a press briefing. “We have reviewed the queue management system specifically to prevent any bottlenecks at the Singhadwara (Lion’s Gate).”
For Makar Sankranti, scheduled for January 14, the administration expects a footfall of over two lakh devotees. The special ‘Makara Chaula’ offering to Lord Jagannath is a key attraction. To manage the crowd, the police have decided to deploy 15 platoons of force inside and outside the Srimandir. The focus will be on the ‘Sata Pahacha’ (Seven Steps) and the inner barricades to ensure a continuous flow of pilgrims.
Looking ahead to the Magha Saptami (Chandrabhaga Mela) on January 25, which involves a holy dip at the Konark beach, the security blueprint is even more extensive. The meeting outlined a deployment plan involving 30 platoons of police force, specifically trained in crowd control and beach safety. “Lifeguards and Fire Service personnel will be stationed along the Chandrabhaga coastline from the early hours of the morning,” added Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida.
Traffic management was a major agenda item. For the upcoming festivals, vehicular movement will be regulated from the Athara Nala entry point. A dedicated ‘Green Corridor’ is being planned for emergency vehicles. The administration has also decided to utilize AI-enabled CCTV cameras to monitor crowd density in real-time, a technology that proved effective during the New Year celebrations.
The officials also addressed the coordination between the Jagannath Temple Police (JTP) and the state police to avoid any friction, emphasizing a unified command structure. With the ‘Niti’ (rituals) timings being critical, the Temple Administration has assured that all rituals, including the ‘Makara Besha’, will be performed as per the schedule.
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