Bhubaneswar: Puri police have earmarked 26 ‘safe zones’ along the 3‑km Grand Road — the main route of Rath Yatra chariots — for emergency evacuation of devotees, and designated 30 parking lots to accommodate nearly 23,840 vehicles, including buses, cars and two‑wheelers.The measures follow chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s directive to create evacuation corridors and parking facilities in view of the massive congregation expected for Thursday’s annual festival.IGP (central range) Satyajit Naik said the 26 safe points have been publicised and urged devotees to use them only during chaotic situations.Puri SP Prateek Singh said the zones, spread across mutts, schools, hotels, shopping complexes, mandaps, parking areas and the district headquarters hospital—are located between Dolabedi Kona and Gundicha temple.Police detailed the distribution — three safe places between Dolabedi Kona and Marchikota Chowk; three between Marchikota Chowk and Town police station; eight between Town police station and Market Chowk; six between Market Chowk and Medical Square; and six between Medical Square and Gundicha temple. “Emergency response units will be stationed nearby for swift evacuation,” the SP said.ADG Saumendra Priyadarsi, overall in‑charge of Rath Yatra security, said traffic and parking arrangements have been scaled up. “Last year, we had 24 parking lots, this time it has been increased to 30. Four‑wheelers can be parked at 22 locations accommodating 7,730 vehicles. At least 15,000 bikes can be parked at four sites — Matitota‑1 and 2, Old Jagannath Ballav, and Blue Flag–Nilachal Ashok. Around 750 buses can be parked at Malatipatpur, Talabania, Swami Narayan Temple and Samanga,” Priyadarsi said.Transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur and DIG (STF) Kanwar Vishal Singh have been tasked with traffic management. “This time, the total parking capacity has been increased by 2,100,” DIG Singh said.“Vehicle inflow and outflow will be tracked manually and through AI‑based systems, with multiple LED screens on highways and two mobile units providing real‑time congestion updates. We will also use social media platforms and bulk SMS messaging systems to keep devotees informed. Three drones and 244 CCTVs have been installed to monitor traffic flow into Puri,” Thakur said.
