Ahmedabad: The Lord Jagannath’s 148th Rath Yatra will roll out on the streets of Ahmedabad on Friday morning, with elaborate security arrangements and new-age technology in place to ensure a smooth and safe procession.

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The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra will begin their 18-km journey from the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur at 7 am.

With rain forecast by the weather department, temple trust authorities have installed a large protective dome over the chariots to shield them until the yatra begins.

City police, in coordination with paramilitary forces, have deployed around 24,000 personnel along the procession route.

In a first, the police will use an AI-based crowd monitoring tool developed by a local startup. The software will analyse live CCTV footage to detect crowd density and alert authorities if limits are exceeded.

Over 300 CCTV cameras and nearly 60 drones will monitor the event, while many police officers will wear body cameras. The live surveillance feed will be tracked from a central control room at the city police commissioner’s office.

Additionally, GPS devices fitted on the three chariots will help officials track their real-time location.

“A mobile monitoring van will also be used to process live footage. Rath yatra has long served as a platform to pilot cutting-edge policing technologies. This year, trainee officers will observe the deployment as part of their field training,” said a senior police official.

Around 1,000 traffic police personnel will be deployed, supported by 23 cranes, 240 terrace points, and 25 watch towers.

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Authorities have installed 44 public address systems and set up 17 public health booths along the route. Of 484 identified dangerous buildings, residents will be urged not to climb them. AFES and EMRI 108 vehicles will be strategically positioned to handle any emergencies.

As tradition has it, the deities returned from their maternal uncle’s home on Thursday and had their eyes covered before the main procession on Friday.

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel, accompanied by senior city and state officials, performed the evening aarti at the temple.

On Friday, the CM will perform the symbolic ‘Pahind Vidhi’, the ritual of sweeping the road to mark the beginning of the yatra.

Preparations by truck associations and participating groups have also concluded. This year, several tableaux are expected to feature themes related to ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the recent AI 171 plane crash.

Pankaj Purani, an akhada member, said that this year, about five girls will participate in the procession and will show their prowess in martial arts. “For the past couple of years, girls have started participating even as it becomes physically demanding to be on the road for the entire day. We have also seen enthusiastic participation from akhada members,” he said.

Box: 213 rath yatras across Gujarat

According to the Director General of Police (DGP) office in Gandhinagar, a total of 213 rath yatra processions will take place across Gujarat on Friday.

The DGP’s office will coordinate with district police units to ensure smooth and secure conduct of these processions. In Ahmedabad alone, 10 separate processions have been scheduled in various parts of the city, including western areas, by organisations such as ISKCON, Swaminarayan Gurukul, and Tripada School.

Other major cities, including Bhavnagar, will also host multiple rath yatras, drawing large crowds.

Box: Saraspur’s mega kitchens to feed 2L devotees

Saraspur, revered as the ‘maternal home’ of the three deities, is ready to welcome lakhs of devotees. The neighbourhood will feed nearly 2 lakh people as part of the annual tradition. Over the years, several new Pols and societies have joined the initiative, making it a collective celebration of devotion.