Keeping in view the possibility of a huge rush during the five days of Panchuka rituals, the Puri district administration has made elaborate arrangements for crowd and traffic management. As many as 30 platoons of police force will be deployed in Puri to maintain law and order.
As per the information of the district administration, all makeshift shops and street vending units along the stretch of the Bada Danda from the Srimandir to Marichikote Chhak will remain shut while vehicular movement on the Grand Road will be restricted from Market Chhak. For the smooth darshan of the deities, barricades will be erected up to Marichikote Chhak.
Speaking to the media, Puri Collector Samarth Verma said, “We are going to provide all necessary amenities to devotees during the Panchuka period. The existing sheds are being extended up to Marichikote. Drinking water points are being increased. We are also making another toilet functional near the temple for the devotees tomorrow.”
The Collector also added that as many as 30 platoons of police force will be deployed in Puri. "The number of volunteers will be increased this time. They will also be deployed in three shifts on the Bada Danda to control the crowd. Besides, we are taking the help of reputed NGOs like Red Cross and St John," he said.
Ashish Kumar Singh, the Central Range Police IG said, "During rush days, our prime responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of devotees. More exit points for the crowd will facilitate easy movement after darshan. We are following protocols for their safety.”
As per reports, like the previous days, the holy town also witnessed a heavy rush of devotees on Tuesday too. They were spotted standing for hours in queues amid allegations that there were no proper arrangements for smooth darshan.
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On the other hand, elderly devotees expressed their displeasure over statements of the temple administrator that sick and elderly people should refrain from visiting the temple during rush.
“We had to face trouble in standing in queues. Yes, the Lord will listen to our prayers from any place. But the soul will get solace only after having darshan of the deities in their abode and from close quarters,” a woman devotee said.
Speaking to the media, SJTA administrator, Ranjan Kumar Das said, “Arrangements have been made to ensure smooth and easy darshan for the devotees tomorrow. Adequate number of sheds for devotees and a special rest shed for the sick and elderly devotees, and drinking water provision has been made on the Bada Danda. Makeshift toilets are also made. Volunteers will be deployed.”
As for his statement on the sick and elderly devotees, the SJTA administrator said, “We have sympathy for all sections of devotees. I came to notice that my appeal was presented in a different manner in the media. That is unfortunate. We have no restrictions for anyone here. We, on behalf of the administration, welcome all.”