The Odisha government has started preparing for the Rath Yatra 2026 seven months in advance. This move aims to avoid mistakes that led to a stampede last year, which killed three people. On January 13, Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a meeting, urging all departments to learn from the past and plan carefully. "I have urged all the departments to identify errors from the Rath Yatra of previous years and implement corrective measures. Seven months are left for the mega event, during which one can make error-free planning," she told reporters. The meeting included top officials like DGP YB Khurania, Fire Services DG Sudhansu Sarangi, and others. Rath Yatra will be held on July 16 this year. Ms. Garg said the early meeting was to make sure no chances are taken this time. Last year’s festival saw delays and overcrowding, which upset devotees and forced Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to apologise. This year, officials will focus on crowd management, sanitation, water supply, infrastructure, security, and traffic. The number of visitors is expected to grow from last year’s 10 lakh attendees. The temple needs 865 logs for chariots; 47 are stored from last year, and 818 are being arranged with help from the Divisional Forest Officer. To avoid crowding near the chariot, free food distribution on Grand Road will be banned. About 500 parking spots will be ready to manage traffic smoothly. Ms. Garg, who led the inquiry into the 2025 stampede, has instructed that crowd control near chariots must be strict to prevent excess gathering. These steps aim for a safer and better Rath Yatra this year.