Odisha: Hotels and lodges vacated as Puri gears up for Rath Yatra

BHUBANESWAR: With barely a day left for for the much-awaited Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings in Puri on Monday, the government is pulling out all stops to ensure that preparations are completed on time. Security has been stepped up in the pilgrim town ahead of the nine-day festival.
Reviewing the situation, ADG (law and order) R K Sharma on Saturday said, “Sixty-five platoons of forces will be deployed in Puri, which has been divided into 12 zones. Four of the 12 zones will be between the Jagannath Temple and the Gundicha Temple, to and from which the three chariots of the sibling deities will be pulled by the servitors during the festival.”
Elaborate security arrangements will be made at the three entry points to the city. “This apart, people will be prohibited from coming to the Grand Road, which leads up to the 12th century shrine. The lanes and bylanes connected to it will also be brought under security cover. No devotee will be allowed to stand on rooftops or balconies along the Grand Road or Bada Danda, as it is referred to by Puri residents,” Sharma told media persons.
The Puri district administration has started vacating the hotels and lodges along the Bada Danda. The weekend shutdown was relaxed on Saturday for people of Puri town as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC will be clamped there for three days from Sunday evening to prevent the congregation of devotees amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the second year in a row that Rath Yatra is being held without devotees.
“Guests have been asked to vacate 41 hotels and lodges along the Grand Road, while 236 households in the locality have been identified in which no guests will be allowed over the next three days. Restrictions will also be imposed on the movement of vehicles along the road. Commercial establishments, including medicine shops, banks and all offices with the exception of essential government offices located on the Grand Road will remain closed during the period,” Puri collector Samarth Verma said.