Puri: The stage is set and all roads are leading to Puri as the sibling deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – are ready to embark on their annual sojourn to Gundicha temple, their birthplace, on three chariots decked up in all splendour, on the occasion of Rath Yatra on Tuesday.
For smooth darshan of the Lords, the stretch from Atharanala Chhaka to Hospital Chhaka and Hospital Chhaka to Subash Bose Crossing have designated as no-vehicle zones. No vehicle will be allowed to the Grand Road during Rath Yatra .
According to the traffic advisory, inter-state and local tourist buses should halt and park at Malatipatpur bus stand. Regular buses carrying passengers will be permitted to proceed to the temporary bus stand at Talabania via the Malatipatapur railway overbridge, Toshali Sands, Grid Station Chhak, and Bhudan Chhak.
Shuttle buses and auto rickshaws within Puri town will be permitted to travel from Talabania to Zilla School Chhak via Sunara Gouranga Chhaka, BNR Hotel Chhaka, Youth Hostel Chhaka, and Nilachala Urban Hata.
Additionally, some shuttle services are being run from Malatipatapur to Atharanala on a round-trip basis for smooth darshan of the Lords by the devotees.
The return route for these vehicles will be from Zilla School Chhak to the helipad, passing through Ghodabazar, Rama Mandir, Odisha Bakery, and Sadar Block office for buses. Auto rickshaws will take a slightly different return route via Mangala Temple.
The traffic regulation will be in force from 00:00 hrs on 19.06.2023 to 00:00 hrs on 21.06.2023 and from 00:00 hrs on 28.06.2023 to 00:00 hrs on 29.06.2023 as per traffic mobility plan.
PARKING
- Two wheelers will have designated parking areas at Jagannath Ballav, Masanichandi, Matitota parking, Nilachala Ashok, and Blue Flag beach. The authorities have also arranged parking lots for two-wheelers at SCS College ground, Sushama Garden, Jagannath Ballav, Masanichandi Square, Floris India and Krushak Bazaar.
- All LMV/Cars/SUVs will avail parking facilities at the parking places at Indoor Stadium, Helipad, Sanskrit University Parking, ITI College Parking, Nalifield and Yatrika. Devotees will also be allowed to park their four-wheelers at 15 places in Puri city including an open place near Lokanath temple, near Yatrika guesthouse, Blue Flag beach, SCS College ground, Bhoodan Nagar, Helipad area, ITI College ground and Neelachal Ashoka Hotel ground.
- The tourist buses will be parked at Malatipatpur, a nearby khondalite stone stockyard, Talabania, Horticulture department office near Bai Das Nagar and Nagapatna.
The traffic flow will be redirected accordingly to accommodate this.
The Puri Police has established a 24×7 helpline at the numbers 6370967100 and 06752-232551 for any assistance required.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das told the media that it is expecting a congregation of around 10 lakh people in Puri when the chariot pulling event of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
As many as 180 platoons (1 platoon comprises 30 personnel) of security forces have been deployed in Puri to smooth conduct of the festival.
