A Co-ordination meeting on forthcoming Ratha Yatra at Puri was held in the DGP’s Camp Office, Bhubaneswar to discuss about various security issues. Dr. R.P.Sharma, IPS, DGP presided over the meeting. Senior Police Officers of the State Police and Officers from Central Govt. Security Agencies like CRPF, BSF, RPF, Coast Guard, Air Port Authorities of India, Indian Navy and IB attended the meeting. A threadbare discussion was held relating to the security arrangement for smooth passage of the festival. The central agencies expressed to extend their co-operation to provide sufficient number of man power and equipment to supplement security. Coast Guard agreed for adequate sea patrolling off the coast of Puri along with personnel of Indian Navy and Marine Staff of Odisha Police. RPF agreed to provide adequate security at Puri and Bhubaneswar Station and also in the running trains and make proper arrangement for dissemination of information to railway passengers through LED regarding timings of different trains. As decided sufficient number of CCTV cameras shall also be installed by the RPF in the Puri Railway Station during this mega festival. RPF will also install display boards in the conspicuous locations of Puri town to provide informations about train timings etc.
• Senior Officers of CRPF also expressed their full co-operation to prevent any evil design by any extremist groups or mischief mongers. Indian Navy and State Police will provide timely support to the Coast Guard in the above mission.
• NSG will be requested to keep one team in readiness in their Hyderabad Hub to meet any emergency during the festival. Sufficient number of personnel from NDRF will also be deployed with necessary equipments to act in any crisis situation. They will be assisted by the State ODRAF, Odisha Police and Odisha Fire Service Personnel.
• It was decided to request Ministry of Civil Aviation as well as Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India to declare Puri Bada Danda (Grand Road) and the temple premises as no flying zone for the low-flying objects like Helicopter, Drone Camera etc during the festival. Local Officers of Bhubaneswar Air Port were requested to take up the matter with their Head office.
• Commissioner of Police Bhubaneswar-Cuttack will operate several Traffic Control Rooms along the Cuttack-Puri NH and Bhubaneswar-Puri NH in their jurisdiction to streamline the movement of traffic as well as provide security to the visiting VIPs.
• One team of NDRF consisting of 45 members will be deployed during the festival to meet any emergency situation.
• Coast Guard will identify some black spots along the sea coast of Puri town. Professional divers, life guards and ambulance will be kept in readiness in these spots.
• More number of CCTV cameras will be installed in Grand Road to have a close watch on the crowd moment. The existing CC cameras damaged by recent cyclone ‘FANI’ to be repaired and put into service.
• CRPF has been requested to spare two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) for deployment during Ratha Yatra.
• An integrated Control Room shall function at Town P.S., Puri where representatives from Odisha Police, CRPF, NDRF, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, RPF and other agencies will remain present round the clock for proper coordination. Director Intelligence, Sri Sunil Roy and other Senior Police Officers of the State and Central Agencies namely Sri Pranabindu Acharya, ADGP (Railways), Sri V.T.Mishra, ADGP (Modernisation), Sri Sanjeeb Panda, ADGP (Law & Order), Sri R.K. Sharma, IGP (Intelligence), Sri Soumendra Priyadarsi, IGP (CR), Sri Sanjaya Singh, Addl. CP Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, Sri Arun Bothra, IGP (Crime), Sri Amitabh Thakur, IGP (SAP), Dr. Umasankar Mishra, SP Puri, Sri Ram Chartra, DIG CRPF, Sri C. Marndi, DIG RPF, Sri S.D Bhanot, DIG Coast Guard, Sri P.K.Sethy, Joint Director SIB, Mr. Jacob, Commandant NDRF, Sri D.P Bhardwag, Air Port Authority of India, attended the meeting.