Meeting reviews preparedness for ensuing Rath Yatra

Rajkumar MohantyPuri, July 2: Seven ministers of various departments concerned with the Rath Yatra preparation work participated in the third high level Rath Yatra coordination committee meeting held here on Thursday and took stock of the preparation for the fete.The meeting expressed concern over poor work in laying new sewer lines, widening and repairs of internal roads which were incomplete.The engineers of respective departments were asked to complete their work by July 10 positively.Members sought intervention of Urban Development Minister over the deadlock between the municipality and works department triggering legal wrangles over construction and renovation of existing Municipality bus stand which is in a shambles.The state government had released Rs.2.40 crore for the municipality bus stand.The meeting was informed that infrastructure works like new bus stand at Malatipatpur for 500 bus capacity and bypass roads to Puri-Konark marine drive road and Mangalaghat have been completed besides thirty parking lots and pilgrim shelters were nearing for completion.With opening of new railway tracks between Sakhigopal-Puri and completion of four-laning of Puri-Bhubaneswar national high way would facilitate hassle free transport.The meeting was appraised about supply of continuous power, illumination of entire city, beach areas and about five km in all three approach roads to the city, provision of potable water supply, essential commodities, hygiene and sanitation, health care services, transport of pilgrims from bus stand to the city, construction of temporary pilgrim shelters and parking lots, installation of integrated security surveillance systems, sealing of unsafe buildings, management of stray cattle, construction of three chariots for the festival and the festival schedule.The meeting also felicitated 21 persons who donated Phasi tree for construction of chariots.Superintendent of Police Asish Kumar Singh said since the area of city has been expanding the traffic arrangements were also extended to the city and suburbs.Five layer security arrangements would be in place for the fete.The temple, Bada Danda, the venue of the fete, Gundicha temple and entire coast line would be put under tight security cover.The personnel of marine police, coast guard and navy would keep close watch on the situation while air patrolling would be conducted to ensure safety of the pilgrims and smooth conduct of the entire festival.Law Minister Arun Sahu presided over the meeting, while Rural Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra, Urban Development Pushpendra Singh Deo, Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi, Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sanjay Kumar Dasburma and Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi participated in the meeting.Sahu appealed the residents and devotees to extend their full cooperation for smooth conduct of Nabakalebara and Rath Yatra of the deities.Temple chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Chairman of Nabakalebara Infrastructure Development Committee Maheswar Mohanty, Puri MP Pinaki Mishra, RDC Bikash Mahapatra, OSD Soumendra Priyadarshi and many others, including representatives of temple servitor community, participated in the meeting.