No visitors allowed into Puri for Ratha Jatra; hotels not to accept bookings

Puri: Issuing fresh guidelines to avoid spread of COVID-19 during Ratha Jatra here, the district administration today decided that tourists will be not be allowed to stay in hotels, lodges and Dharmasalas in the pilgrim town during the festival.

The administration has asked authorities of hotels, lodges, Dharmasalas and other options not to accept bookings and vacate the facilities much before the festival.

The decision was taken at a meeting held between servitors and district Collector earlier in the day.

Besides, it was also decided that only family members of houses and buildings alongside Bada Danda (Grand Road) can watch the festival from their respective terraces.

“No outsider should be allowed on the terraces during the festival. A survey will be done to get details of all families residing in the houses or buildings. As decided earlier, prohibitory order under Section-144 will be imposed on Bada Danda,” said an official.

CCTVs will be installed at different locations to maintain law and order. RT-PCR test of around 3,000 servitors, police personnel, healthcare workers and temple staff before conduct of Ratha Jatra.