In anticipation of a massive surge of devotees for New Year 2026, Puri District Collector Divyajyoti Parida has cancelled all government staff leave until January 4. Officials have been strictly ordered to remain at headquarters to manage the expected influx of lakhs of pilgrims seeking Lord Jagannath’s blessings.
The pilgrim town has been transformed into a fortress with 70 platoons of police and a massive surveillance network of 344 CCTV cameras inside and outside the shrine.
Security Deployment:
Elite Command: 2 Commandants, 13 Additional SPs, and 43 DSPs.
Ground Force: 87 Inspectors and 246 SIs/ASIs.
Focus: Seamless "Darshan," traffic management, and tourist safety.
Collector Parida emphasized that these measures ensure a safe, spiritual start to the year. All administrative preparations are now in their final stages to handle the record-breaking crowds.