Ahmedabad is set to host the 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath on Friday, with comprehensive security arrangements and advanced monitoring technology in place. The annual event, commencing from Jamalpur, will be observed with heightened vigilance as authorities combine traditional faith with modern surveillance tools.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Harsh Sanghavi, attended the Netrotsav ritual of Lord Jagannath, offered Aarti, and raised the traditional flag.&nbsp;
He later reviewed the full route of the Yatra with senior officials, including Gujarat's Director General of Police, Vikas Sahay, and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik. During the inspection, Sanghavi remarked, &ldquo;The Rath Yatra of Jagannathji in Ahmedabad stands as the largest religious procession in the country in terms of both devotion and discipline.&rdquo;
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be deployed for the first time in India during a religious gathering of this scale, focusing on crowd regulation and incident prevention. The use of AI-driven surveillance, along with drones, aims to detect congestion and manage movement to avoid mishaps such as stampedes. Measures have also been taken to ensure that devotees can offer prayers comfortably and safely.
A detailed 3D mapping of the 16-kilometre procession path has been completed, enabling strategic deployment of police forces. Surveillance operations will include 3,500 fixed CCTV units, 2,872 body cameras, 240 terrace surveillance points, 25 monitoring towers, and an extensive force of 23,844 police personnel. Of these, approximately 4,500 officers will accompany the moving chariots, saints, and religious groups throughout the event.
Civic measures and traffic arrangements ahead of the event
To manage the heavy influx of visitors and ensure smooth movement, 1,000 traffic police personnel, under the supervision of the Joint Commissioner of the Traffic Branch, will regulate vehicular flow. Additionally, 23 cranes will be positioned to clear blockages along the route when required.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), in partnership with police authorities, has identified 484 structurally unsafe buildings situated along the Yatra route. These structures have been secured and covered with tarpaulin to prevent access and ensure public safety.
Seventeen Jan Sahay Kendras (public assistance booths) will be placed along the procession path to aid individuals, particularly in reuniting lost children with their families. Last year, more than 65 missing children were successfully returned to their guardians through these centres.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel recently chaired a review meeting in Gandhinagar to assess police preparedness. Highlighting the cultural and spiritual significance of the Yatra, Patel stressed the importance of a peaceful celebration across all 213 locations in Gujarat where similar processions will take place. Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary M K Das, Police Chief Vikas Sahay, Commissioner Malik, and other senior officials participated in the meeting.
Ahmedabad Police officials presented an overview of crowd management and emergency response strategies. Fire safety measures have also been reinforced, with AI systems programmed to alert officials in case of fire-related incidents. Monitoring will be conducted via 227 CCTV units, 41 drones, and thousands of wearable body cameras. Additionally, 240 "Dhaba points" and 25 observation towers will serve as key surveillance nodes.
As part of communal harmony initiatives, the police conducted 177 Peace Committee meetings, 235 Mohalla Committee discussions, and 57 sessions with women&rsquo;s groups. Engagements were also held with religious leaders, akhara organisers, and the Khalasi community responsible for pulling the chariots. Activities such as blood donation drives, volleyball games, mehndi contests, and the Ekta Cup cricket match were organised to promote unity.
Public transport services will see temporary changes. According to AMC, BRTS Route No. 101 (RTO Circular) will be closed for the day, and four others&mdash;Routes 02, 08, 09, and 11&mdash;will operate with altered paths.&nbsp;
Routes 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 will continue their regular service. Bus operations will remain suspended at multiple BRTS stations including Delhi Darwaja, Kalupur Ghee Bazaar, Raikhad Char Rasta, MJ Library, Naroda Fruit Market, and others.
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Harsh Sanghavi inspects route and performed aarti

Ahead of Rath Yatra, Harsh Sanghavi leads full route inspection with top police officials.

High-Tech Vigil for 148th Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad

Ahead of Rath Yatra, Harsh Sanghavi leads full route inspection with top police officials.

June 25, 2025 | 22:43 IST