Bhubaneswar: In a new measure for Rath Yatra this year, Odisha government has decided to make a count of devotees coming to Puri on the day.
Revealing this to media persons on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said lakhs of people from across Odisha, different parts of country and outside throng the Pilgrim Town on the day of Rath Yatra. But there is no system to make a calculation of their number.
“Considering this, the government will start a new system to calculate the number of visitors this year. It will help us make necessary preparation for the safety and comfort of the devotees for the Rath Yatra next year,” she said.
“The government is taking steps for counting the number of visitors on all routes to Puri. The visitors coming on the three major roads to the town from Bhubaneswar, Konark and Brahmagiri will be calculated on the basis number of buses, cars, auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers entering the town on the day,” she said.
Parida said the passengers in all trains running to Puri will also be counted. Besides, the people staying in hotels, lodgings, mutts, guest houses, ‘dharmasalas’ and other facilities would be taken into account on Rath Yatra day, she added.