The Jagannath Rath Yatra is undoubtedly one of the most revered and anticipated event in India. Being one of the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, nearly 20 lakh pilgrims visit Puri in Odisha every year to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath. The event is considered to be extremely significant amongst devotees as they believe taking part in the Rath Yatra will in turn reward them with heavenly blessings and guarantees spiritual elevation.
However, the sheer magnanimity of the event tends to present several problems for the organisers of the Jagannath Rath Yatra. “Since I am responsible for managing all traffic, both inside and outside of Puri, it is a major challenge for the police personnel to control and regulate it. This year, we are expecting around 1 to 1.5 million pilgrims to come to Puri for darshan and the Rath Yatra,” said Dayal Gangwar, IPS, ADG Odisha Police in an exclusive conversation with Tech Achieve Media.
In addition to the pilgrims, a large number of VIPs are also expected to attend the Rath Yatra this year. “We are expecting a large number of VIPs this year due to the recent change in government in Odisha after 25 years. Among the VIPs, the Honorable President of India is also scheduled to visit on the same day,” said Dayal Gangwar.
Why Odisha Police Decided to Deploy AI for Jagannath Rath Yatra
To make the Jagannath Rath Yatra an orderly and momentous occasion for all the pilgrims and VIPs, Dayal Gangwar, who has a background in technology, decided to turn to the flavor of the season—Artificial Intelligence—to ensure the smooth management of the vast crowd visiting their revered deity. Odisha Police has tied up with Odisha-based company IG Drones, which is backed up by Startup Odisha. Odisha Police will deploy five Jaga drones built by IG Drones. The drones are equipped with public announcement systems, which are expected to help with real-time announcements, crowd management, and maintaining overall public safety.
“Keeping the challenges in mind, our aim is to ensure unhindered and smooth traffic from Bhubaneswar, Konark, and Puri towards Puri. For the first time, we have introduced an AI-based vehicle counting system and deployed surveillance and public announcement drones. These technologies will help us manage traffic more effectively, particularly in areas prone to jams and lockdowns. The drones will monitor the entire stretch from Bhubaneswar to Puri, providing real-time updates and assistance to pilgrims traveling by two-wheelers, four-wheelers, or three-wheelers, ensuring proper regulation and a smoother journey,” said Dayal Gangwar.
Furthermore, to assist the pilgrims Odisha Police has also added WhatsApp chatbots to inform people about traffic arrangements. “Everybody carries a smartphone nowadays. From the comfort of your living room, you can easily plan your journey to Puri using our WhatsApp chatbot, a feature that wasn’t available until last year. Previously, people relied on TV news or information from others, often starting their journey only to encounter traffic jams. This year, with the help of AI and our WhatsApp chatbot, along with updates shared on our social media handles (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook), we aim to provide smooth and unhindered traffic for the public,” added Dayal Gangwar.
Since technology is being used on such a massive scale for the first time, the pioneering solutions deployed here may serve as lessons for future occasions. Therefore, Odisha Police is working tirelessly for 24 hours a day to ensure that this mission turns out to be successful. “Since this is a pilot project that I have initiated, I am working 24/7 to address the challenges we’ve faced over the last 10 years. I am identifying the blind spots where this technology can be utilized to its fullest potential. With the support of my tech team and the Bodhisattwa’s team, we are actively working to implement these solutions,” stated Dayal Gangwar.
About the Jaga Drones Being deployed by IG Drones
The Jaga Drones, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder and CEO of IG Drones, says has been inspired by Lord Jagannath. Boshisattwa Sanghapriya is a notable personality in the industry and has held leadership positions across various Government entities such as Startup Innovation, FICCI, and ISRO-VSLV Rocket program to name a few.
“The drones, equipped with artificial intelligence, work in tandem with CCTV cameras, including the Jaga drone. These drones cover every nook and corner of the city and peripheral highways, capturing real-time data and transmitting it to the city command and control center,” said Bodhisattwa to Tech Achieve Media.
“At the control center, we run specialized AI software to identify different types of vehicles entering and leaving the city. This technology helps us pinpoint traffic congestions and manage the city’s traffic flow autonomously. Once we receive data from the CCTVs, it is processed in real-time, and we issue advisories through a WhatsApp chatbot to the general public, helping them avoid congestion. This system allows people to plan their journeys based on current traffic conditions, ensuring smoother travel,” he added.
The team, he says, is working tirelessly day and night to construct multiple trials, ensuring they are fully prepared to assist people and alleviate any inconvenience, while adding that their sole purpose is to help the devotees of Jagannath. “You can consider this as a pilot and pioneering project, a milestone in crowd and traffic management for the entire country. Whatever we are implementing in Puri, we aim to scale it across the nation,” adds Bodhisattwa.
He further went to thank the Odisha Police and the Government for giving them an opportunity to deploy their solutions at such a monumental event. “It’s all because of visionary leadership in the government, that we have been able to accomplish this work. The initiatives we are implementing are the brainchild of Odisha Police, who conceptualized these solutions. We are simply the tech partner, bringing together all the pieces of technology and making these ideas a reality,” he commented.
He further added: “The Odisha Police, being a dominant body, has done massive work in this area. With their support and collaboration with tech start-ups, the synergy between the government and the start-up sector has activated this technology on such a scale that it will definitely benefit the people.”
Future Plans of Odisha Police
The deployment of AI-powered technology by the Odisha Police for the Jagannath Rath Yatra marks a significant milestone in crowd and traffic management in India. This year’s Rath Yatra is set to be a momentous occasion, thanks to the innovative use of AI, drones, and real-time data analytics. The Odisha Police’s commitment to leveraging AI for the Jagannath Rath Yatra is poised to make the festival not only a spiritual highlight but also a showcase of technological prowess. “This is a pilot project, and with the wishes of Lord Jagannath, this will be successful and set an example for future pivotal events,” said Dayal Gangwar. With continued efforts and successful implementation, this initiative promises to enhance the experience for all devotees and set new standards for event management in the years to come.
So, in the words of Dayal Gangwar, the essence of this year’s Jagannath Rath Yatra would be “Jai Jagannath – With a Twist of AI.”