Overview
- Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level review on Monday that set operational rules for the July 16 Ratha Yatra and released the district booklet 'Ruprekha‑Rath Yatra 2026' to guide departments and servitors.
- The government ordered deployment of about 220 police platoons, with each platoon roughly 30 personnel, to manage crowds and keep watch for rumour-mongers and anti-social elements.
- Majhi directed the Puri collector not to issue any extra inner-cordon passes so that only officials and temple servitors who must work near the chariots receive access.
- Officials finalised plans for health, sanitation, drinking water, transport and traffic control and coordinated with Indian Railways, which plans to run more than 300 special trains and prepare holding areas for devotees.
- The stepped-up measures respond to last year’s delayed chariot pull and a stampede that killed three people and are meant to shorten delays, improve women’s safety and lower the risk of crowd crushes during the procession.