Gujarat is preparing for a massive Rath Yatra festival on July 1. According to the data, the state will see 152 Rath Yatras and nearly 60 Shobha Yatras. As such, the authorities are working to have tight security arrangements to avoid any unpleasant incidents. The crime branch has also been involved this year. The police have identified sensitive areas and are putting them on high alert for violent clashes.
This morning, Ahmedabad’s traffic police department released a map, detailing the routes and areas that will be closed off for the Rath yatra. They have also given timings when each route will be closed, along with alternative routes for the same. In general, many crossroads and routes in the old city will be closed off. Khamasa, Jamalpur, Astodia, Kalupur circle, Delhi chakla, Premdarvaja, Shahpur, R.C Highschool, Pankore naka, Gol Limda, and other areas will not be available to the general public. The routes will be closed starting at 2:00 pm until a certain time when the Rath yatra procession has passed.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporations (AMC) Mayor Kirit Parmar reviewed the security arrangements along the Rath Yatra route, which starts from Jagannath temple in the Jamalpur and ends at Saraspur temple. Other members of the standing committee and officials of the East zone were also present here and carried out the inspection. State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi and Sanjay Srivastava, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, were also present at the meeting.
