The third high-level Rath Yatra Coordination Committee meeting was held here on Thursday to assess the progress of the works being done by various departments involved for the July 18 festival.It was revealed that most of the works like drainage and sewer lines and repair of roads were incomplete. The double tracking of railway line between Sakhigopal and Puri for facilitating hassle-free transport and Puri-Bhubaneswar national highway four-laning and rail overbridge at Samjajapur were complete.
The bypass roads from Malatipatpur to Puri-Konark marine drive road to Mangalaghat was almost complete. A bus stand at Malatipatpur was also near completion.The meeting extended the deadline for widening and repair of roads and laying of sewer and drain lines to July 10. The meeting, among other things, discussed supply of power, potable water, essential commodities, hygiene, sanitation, healthcare services, transport, erection of pilgrim shelters, regulation of pilgrim traffic, construction of parking lots, police arrangements, security surveillance systems (integrated coordination mechanism through installation of CCTVs), sealing of unsafe buildings, management of stray cattle and bovine menace and construction progress of three chariots.
law Minister Arun Sahu, RD Minister Badri Narayan Patra, Housing and Urban Development Minister Puspendra Singh Deo, Transport Minister Ramesn Majhi, Energy Minister Pranab Prakas Das, Civil Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma and Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi were present.law Minister Sahu presided. Temple Chief Administrator Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Nabakalebar infrastructure development committee chairman and Puri MlA Maheswar Mohanty, local MP Pinaki Misra, RDC Bikash Mahapatra, OSD Soumendra Priyadrshi, IGP RP Koche, District Magistrate Arabind Agarwal, SP Asish Kumar Singh, civic body chairman Jayant Sarangi and Zilla Parishad chairman Dibakar Patra participated. Senior residents and representatives of temple servitor community presented their views.