Puri, July 20: The Puri Municipal Corporation (PMC) has earned widespread appreciation for its swift and well-coordinated sanitation drive that restored cleanliness across the holy city following the massive influx of devotees during the Rath Yatra.

With more than 10 lakh pilgrims converging on Puri for the annual festival, large stretches of the Grand Road (Bada Danda) and surrounding areas were left strewn with garbage. Undeterred by persistent rain and challenging weather conditions, the civic body launched an overnight clean-up operation to ensure the city was ready before the next phase of the festival.

Around 150 sanitation workers, supported by 15 JCB machines and 20 tractors, worked continuously for nearly six hours to remove tonnes of waste from the Grand Road and other key locations. Their efforts ensured that the ceremonial route was restored to a clean and hygienic condition before devotees returned for the resumption of chariot pulling the following day.

The prompt response by the municipal workforce drew praise from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee commended the dedication of the sanitation staff and acknowledged the leadership of PMC Commissioner Sneha Argula in executing the large-scale operation efficiently.

In a post on social media platform X, Padhee lauded the meticulous planning and seamless coordination that enabled the clean-up drive to be completed despite adverse weather.

“Very well done, Sneha. Despite the inclement weather, the PMC team did a fantastic job. Your planning, coordination, and dedication ensured that everything was managed smoothly. Please convey my appreciation to the entire team. Keep up the excellent work!” Padhee wrote.

The sanitation drive has been widely viewed as a key factor in maintaining hygiene and facilitating smooth crowd movement during one of India’s largest religious gatherings. The civic administration’s round-the-clock efforts underscored the importance of effective municipal planning in managing the challenges posed by the annual influx of millions of devotees.