Puri: Ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra 2026, the Odisha Police's Traffic Control Centre, Puri, has issued a detailed traffic advisory to ensure the safe and smooth movement of lakhs of devotees expected to visit the pilgrim town. 

The arrangements include 30 designated parking areas, AI-based traffic monitoring, drone surveillance, LED information systems and a 24-hour no-vehicle zone around the Grand Road.

According to the advisory, a total of 30 parking locations have been earmarked across Puri to accommodate different categories of vehicles. These include 22 parking areas for four-wheelers with a capacity of 7,730 vehicles, four parking zones for two-wheelers capable of accommodating 15,000 vehicles, and four bus parking locations with space for 750 buses.

The police have also increased parking capacity by adding six new parking locations compared to last year. The new sites include Bhudan, Central School, Central School Back Side, Taj, Samanga and Shree Setu, increasing the overall parking capacity by 2,100 vehicles over the 2025 arrangements.

For pass holders, dedicated parking facilities have been created at JBPC, Yatrika, Loknath and Nail Field, while 18 parking areas have been earmarked for vehicles without passes. Additional contingency parking has also been arranged along Jail Road.

Non-Pass Holder Parking Places include: 

– Samanga Parking 
– Near Central School (SCS College area) 
– Inside Central School 
– Shree Setu (Circular Field) 
– Bhudan 
– Jail Road Parking / Purushottam Parking Place (Contingency) 
– ITI College Parking 
– Helipad 
– Horticulture Parking 
– OLA Guest House 
– Talabania Fish Market & adjoining field 
– Indoor Stadium 
– Sterling Chhak Parking (Shani Temple side) 
– Parking near Taj Hotel (Sterling Chhak) 
– Sterling Chhak Below-Road Parking 
– Sterling Chhak Road side towards Hotel Sterling 
– Saradhabali Parking (Sunabesa) 
– Swosti to Sterling Road (Sunabesa)

To improve traffic management, the police will monitor vehicle movement using both manual counting and AI-based systems. Authorities have installed 244 CCTV cameras and deployed three drones at strategic locations to monitor traffic flow into Puri.

A total of 1,645 traffic signages, including 595 permanent and 1,050 temporary signboards, have been installed across the district to guide motorists. Multiple LED display boards have also been placed on highways to provide real-time updates on traffic congestion.

Two mobile LED display units will operate along the Uttara–Lingipur corridor and in Bhubaneswar, displaying live traffic conditions and congestion alerts, particularly for the Malatipatpur route.

For the first time, Odisha Police has introduced a Bulk SMS alert service to provide motorists and pilgrims with real-time traffic updates and congestion alerts, especially on the Malatipatpur and Batgaon routes.

Special arrangements have also been made for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Two Model Traffic Aid Posts have been established at Talabania and Malatipatpur, offering facilities such as drinking water, rest areas and assistance. In addition, 73 Traffic Aid Posts have been set up across Puri district to facilitate better coordination and public assistance.

No-Vehicle Zone on July 16

The administration has declared a No-Vehicle Zone from 12.00 am on July 16 to 12.00 am on July 17, 2026, covering the entire Grand Road and several connecting roads leading to the Jagannath Temple.

The restricted stretches include:

• Jhadeswari Chhak to Hospital Crossing
• Jail Road Parking to Hospital Crossing
• Brushava Chhak to Sri Jagannath Temple
• Solakhia Baragachha Chhak to Sri Jagannath Temple
• Mochisahi Chhak to Sri Jagannath Temple
• Yatrika Parking to Digabareni Chhak

The restrictions have been notified by the District Magistrate-cum-Collector, Puri, as part of the traffic management plan for the annual chariot festival.

The Traffic Control Centre has appealed to pilgrims, bus operators and motorists to follow the advisory, use designated parking areas and cooperate with traffic personnel to ensure a safe and hassle-free Rath Yatra 2026 scheduled from July 16 (Thursday).