Police will ensure safety and service to devotees during Rath: Odisha DGP 

All preparations are in place to ensure safety of devotees and their hassle free darshan of the deities during Rath Yatra this year, said DGP Sunil Bansal on Monday. 

He along with other top cops attended a review meeting in Puri. 

After the meeting, while briefing the media persons, the DGP said, “Owing to the prevailing pandemic situation and the direction of the Supreme Court, for two years, the festival was observed without participation of devotes. This year, since the Covid-19 situation is not so alarming, we expect devotes in lakhs will participate in the festival. To ensure their safety and hassle free darshan of the deities, adequate police forces have been mobilised in Puri. Dedicated and sincere officers have been entrusted with the responsibility.”

 “I would like to request devotees to follow the traffic rules while coming to the holy city. We have also designated adequate number of parking spaces for them,” he informed.  

“All the police officers have been sensitised to to provide safety and service to devotees,’ he said, adding they hope the festival will pass off peacefully. 
Notably, the much awaited annual nine-day-sojourn of Lord Jagannath and His siblings will commence on July 1, Friday.