Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar to review the preparedness of the police force for the successful and peaceful conduct of the 148th Rath Yatra of Bhagwan Jagannath, held annually in Ahmedabad on Ashadhi Beej.

The Chief Minister stated that the Rath Yatra, organized at over 213 locations across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, is a religious celebration filled with public enthusiasm and devotion. He emphasized the state government’s commitment to ensuring that the festival is celebrated in a peaceful and secure environment.

During the meeting, officials from Ahmedabad City Police gave a detailed presentation on the law and order arrangements along the 16-kilometer route of the Yatra, as well as the safety and security measures in place.

For the first time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be deployed by the city police for crowd management and fire alerts during the Rath Yatra. The AI system will help detect and manage overcrowding at specific points along the route and alert authorities in the event of a fire, enabling a swift response from police and fire personnel.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner informed that more than 23,884 security personnel, including SRP battalions, Chetak Commandos, and the Rapid Action Force, will be deployed to ensure the safety of the Yatra. Around 4,500 personnel will accompany the moving procession to provide security to the chariots, trucks, akhadas, bhajan groups, and Mahants.

Additionally, about 1,000 traffic police personnel, under the supervision of the Joint Commissioner of the Traffic Branch, will be deployed to manage traffic and prevent congestion. Twenty-three cranes have also been arranged to assist in clearing roads if needed.

To ensure robust surveillance, live monitoring will be conducted through 227 CCTV cameras, 41 drones, and 2,872 body-worn cameras. Furthermore, 240 Dhaba points and 25 watch towers have been established for real-time monitoring of the entire route.

Steps have also been taken to restrict access to 484 old and dilapidated buildings along the Rath Yatra route by putting up warning signs and barricades. Seventeen public assistance centers and 44 public address systems will be in place to assist citizens during the Yatra.

To promote communal harmony and social unity, the city police organized 177 Peace Committee meetings, 235 Mohalla Committee meetings, 57 Women’s Committee meetings, as well as multiple meetings with religious leaders, Khalasi brothers (who pull the chariots), and akhara administrators. Awareness programs such as the Ekta Cup cricket match, volleyball tournaments, mehndi competitions, and blood donation camps were also held.

Chief Minister Patel also sought necessary inputs from State Police Chief Vikas Sahay to ensure that the Rath Yatra proceeds in a peaceful and secure manner, not only in Ahmedabad but across all locations in Gujarat where the Yatra is celebrated.

Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi, Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister and Home Department M.K. Das, Director General of Police Vikas Sahay, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, along with senior secretaries and top police officials, attended the meeting. DeshGujarat