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Rath Yatra: Odisha Cuts Passes to Curb Puri Crowd Chaos
26 Apr
Summary
- Fewer cordon passes to be issued to manage Puri Rath Yatra crowds.
- Decision made after three deaths during last year's Rath Yatra.
- New measures include restricted food distribution and enhanced traffic management.

The Odisha government plans to issue fewer cordon passes for the upcoming Rath Yatra to mitigate overcrowding around the chariots, a decision prompted by three deaths during last year's festival. A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg focused on comprehensive arrangements, including security, crowd management, and sanitation for the event starting July 16.
Key changes include restricting the distribution of free food on the Grand Road and designating specific areas for such activities. Officials also discussed enhancing traffic management, installing CCTV cameras, and preparing emergency response systems. The Railways will add eight new ticket counters for pilgrim convenience.