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Time of India

Puri residents rue traffic restrictions

Puri: Rath Yatra celebrations, while bringing festive cheer to Puri, has brought concern for residents facing challenges due to restriction in vehicular movement and accessing various areas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 3km stretch of Grand Road from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple, along with all connecting lanes and bylanes, was brought under traffic restrictions, causing difficulty for residents trying to reach their homes and traders who have their shops in the area. "We understand the religious importance of Rath Yatra, but the administration should have made better arrangements for locals. Many of us are struggling to maintain our daily routines and business operations," said Rajesh Mohanty, a shopkeeper near Grand Road. The number of passes issued by Puri district administration for hassle-free movement of two-wheelers and vehicle passes for locals proved inadequate to meet the needs. Furthermore, many pass holders alleged they were stopped by security personnel despite having valid documentation. Local resident Priya Pattnaik expressed her frustration, stating, "Even with a valid pass, I was stopped multiple times at many places and had to take lengthy detours to reach my home. The security measures are important, but there needs to be better coordination." The district administration defended their measures, with a senior official explaining, "We have implemented these restrictions keeping in mind the safety and security of lakhs of devotees who attend the festival. We can understand the hardships the locals face. We are working to address the concerns of local residents while maintaining necessary security and traffic protocols." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Local community leaders have suggested the formation of a resident advisory committee to work with district authorities in developing more balanced security measures that consider both devotees' safety and locals' convenience. Meanwhile, Puri police have assured that they are monitoring the situation closely and making necessary adjustments to minimise inconvenience to residents while ensuring smooth conduct of the festival.