Lakhs of Devotees Expected in Puri for New Year 2026: DGP Reviews Security Arrangements

High-Level Meeting Held at DGP Camp Office, Bhubaneswar

With the English New Year 2026 approaching, lakhs of devotees are expected to visit Puri to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath. Keeping this in view, a high-level review meeting was held on Wednesday at the DGP Camp Office in Bhubaneswar under the chairmanship of Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania.

The meeting focused on ensuring the safety of devotees, orderly darshan at the Srimandir, temple security, traffic management, and overall coordination among various agencies during the New Year celebrations.

Emphasis on Robust Security and Crowd Management

Addressing senior police officials, the DGP stressed the need for comprehensive security arrangements across Puri city to manage the massive influx of devotees. He directed officials to ensure smooth and disciplined darshan inside the temple premises, effective crowd control measures, and seamless traffic and parking management.

Special emphasis was laid on intensified patrolling along the sea beach, installation of CCTV cameras at key junctions, and strict checking at hotels and lodges to prevent any untoward incidents.

Coordination and Preparedness for Emergencies

The DGP instructed officers to work in close coordination with all concerned departments and maintain a high level of preparedness to handle any unforeseen situations. He also emphasized courteous behavior towards devotees and urged the police personnel to remain alert and responsive at all times.

Instructions to Puri SP for Peaceful New Year Celebrations

To ensure a safe, orderly, and peaceful environment in Puri during the New Year celebrations, the DGP directed the Superintendent of Police, Puri, to take all necessary preventive and regulatory measures well in advance.

Senior Officers in Attendance

The meeting was attended by several senior police officials, including Director (Intelligence) R.P. Koche; Additional Director General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sanjeeb Panda; ADGP (Railway and Coastal Security) Arun Bothra; ADGP (Modernisation) Soumendra Kumar Priyadarshi; ADGP (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar; Bhubaneswar–Cuttack Police Commissioner S. Devdatt Singh; ADGP (Armed Police) Rajesh Kumar; DIG (Central Range) Satyajit Nayak; and DCP Bhubaneswar Jagmohan Meena.

DIG (Eastern Range) Pinak Mishra, Puri SP Prateek Singh, and Cuttack Rural SP Vinith Agrawal participated in the meeting through virtual mode.