Bhubaneswar/Puri: Expecting a turnout of lakhs of devotees for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri, the Odisha Police have stepped up elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth and incident-free conduct of the festival. The nine-day chariot festival will commence on July 16.

During a high-level review meeting chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania, it was revealed around 12,000 police personnel will be deployed for the event. The deployment will include traffic constables and 10 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including CRPF and BSF. In addition, 250 platoons of OSAP, IRBN, APR, and traffic forces will be stationed across key locations.

To manage the massive crowds and streamline traffic and parking arrangements, nearly 3,000 Home Guards will be deployed across various parts of the city.

The DGP emphasised the need for proactive measures to ensure the festival is conducted smoothly despite potential challenges.

Appealing to the public, he urged devotees to follow the traffic advisories issued from time to time by the Odisha Police through its official portal to avoid congestion and ensure a hassle-free experience.