Title - Puri set to roll out Rath

PURI: The countdown is over with Puri all set to host the Rath Yatra on Thursday. The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the annual car festival, which is expected to be attended by over 10 lakh pilgrims from India and abroad.The pulling of the three colourful chariots will start around 4 pm . The deities will traverse about 3 km on the Grand Road for their 9-day sojourn in Gundicha temple.The road where the three chariots will roll wore a bridal look on Wednesday. All buildings along the Grand Road have been painted with ivory colour to add a visual delight to the festival. Information kiosks have been set up at different places, including the bus stand and the railway station, for the convenience of visitors.Security has been beefed up for an incident-free Rath Yatra. As many as 107 platoons of police force, including anti-Maoist squads and quick reaction teams and two companies of rapid action force (RAF) have been mobilized to ensure law and order and regulate traffic in the town. "Around 500 officers of the ranks of SP, ASP, DSP, inspector and sub-inspector besides some IPS officers would be deployed during Rath Yatra in Puri. Around 6,000 home guards will also be there," said SP (Puri) Anup Kumar Sahoo said.A number of high frequency CCTV cameras have been installed at vantage points along the Grand Road to keep a tab on suspicious characters. Sharp-shooters will also occupy major rooftops around the temple. Coastguard personnel would keep a strict vigil on the marine route of Puri. Nearly 200 lifeguards will man the 7-km sprawling beach to prevent drowning. Adequate security has been put in place at the Puri railway station. "Woman constables will patrol in the train," a railway police officer said.

Devotees can expect clement weather as meteorological experts have predicted mild drizzle on Thursday. "We hope the sky will remain overcast tomorrow. But there will be more humidity," a weatherman said.

A staggering Rs 2 crore has been spent on this year's Rath Yatra. According to sources, around Rs 40 lakh was spent on the making of chariots. "Around Rs 15 lakh was spent to buy the coir ropes to pull the chariots, clothes for decoration of the cars and payment to workers, among other things," a temple official said.

Sources said colourful cotton clothes were procured from Ahmedabad for Rs 2 lakh. This year, nearly Rs 40,000 was spent in beautifying the chariots with applique work of Pipili, sources said. At least 150 people, including carpenters and sculptors, were assigned the construction of chariots.