Ahmedabad’s Rath Yatra Route To Get ₹19.59 Crore Renovation Ahead Of Grand Procession
Ahmedabad: With this year’s Rath Yatra just weeks away, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has announced a ₹19.59 crore redevelopment plan to upgrade a crucial stretch of the yatra route. The facelift targets a 1.2-kilometer segment beginning at Jamalpur Char Rasta and extending past prominent locations like the Jagannath Temple, Jamalpur Gate, Vaishya Sabha, and Khamasa, culminating near the AMC campus.
The 148th Rath Yatra will take place on June 27, with three elaborately decorated chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Balram, and Subhadra through the city. As always, the event is expected to attract lakhs of devotees from across the state and beyond. The Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur is a spiritual cornerstone of the city and the starting point of the Rath Yatra, a revered tradition that has captivated devotees for 148 years. The annual procession draws massive crowds, and the city is gearing up to enhance both infrastructure and aesthetics to accommodate the influx.
The revamp includes a comprehensive redesign of major junctions along the route, such as Jamalpur Darwaja, Jamalpur Chakla, and Khamasa Crossroads, to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Upgrades will feature new road surfacing, artistic lighting, redesigned intersections, tabletop crossings, decorative islands, and cultural sculptures, all designed to give the area a festive appeal.
Special lighting installations are already underway at the temple entrance and plaza area, with the goal of creating a visually captivating experience for devotees during the event. In anticipation of large crowds, AMC is also working on designated standing zones and crowd control arrangements to ensure safe viewing along the route.
Before the main event, the Jalayatra, a symbolic mini procession, will take place on June 11. This ceremonial ritual will feature elephants, traditional bands, flags, bhajan mandalis, and akhadas, moving from the temple to the Sabarmati River. City officials are coordinating closely with police and emergency services to ensure the event proceeds smoothly, with robust security and logistical plans in place.