Puri, Jul 18: The Puri Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched one of its largest civic operations to ensure seamless services during the annual Rath Yatra, deploying extensive manpower and infrastructure to keep the holy city clean and functional amid heavy monsoon conditions, officials said on Saturday.

Driven by the spirit of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, sanitation remains the foremost priority. Intensive overnight cleaning drives have been carried out across Bada Danda and Gundicha Temple premises, while 1,451 sanitation personnel supported by 570 waste collection vehicles, 15 cesspool vehicles, and three mechanical road sweepers are working round‑the‑clock to maintain cleanliness. Dedicated teams remain stationed along the Grand Road, temple precincts, Beach Road and other high‑footfall areas to ensure immediate garbage lifting.

To tackle waterlogging, PMC has operationalised 23 parking areas with maintenance teams and deployed 38 dewatering pumps, supplemented by 50 additional pumps from Fire Services and 10 high‑capacity pump sets capable of draining nearly 3,000 litres per minute. Nearly 1,600 temporary toilets, including Divyang‑friendly units, have been set up across camps and parking areas, monitored through geo‑tagging for accountability. Around 3,000 temporary lights have also been installed at strategic points to facilitate safe movement.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra commended the arrangements, noting that world‑class civic services for devotees remain the State Government’s highest priority. Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee highlighted the systematic, technology‑driven approach, including geo‑tagging and continuous field monitoring, which has ensured exceptional standards of cleanliness and civic service delivery.
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Pre‑festival preparedness included anti‑encroachment drives, covering of deep drains with slabs, desilting of over 300 major drains, and extensive pothole repairs. These measures, combined with seamless inter‑departmental coordination, have enabled effective management of sanitation, drainage, and public amenities despite monsoon showers.

The relentless efforts of sanitation workers, engineers, and frontline staff have reaffirmed PMC’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of civic governance during one of the world’s largest religious congregations. Millions of devotees are thus able to participate in the sacred Rath Yatra in a clean, safe, and spiritually fulfilling environment.