Puri, June 27 (UNI) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat today lauded the use of technology-driven surveillance during the Puri Rath Yatra.
For the first time, advanced drone surveillance technology has been deployed at the Rath Yatra
by the Odisha Police, in collaboration with IG Drones, an Odisha-based defence tech startup.
Accompanied by Odisha’s Higher Education and Culture Minister Surjyabanshi Suraj and BJP National Spokesperson and Puri MP Dr. Sambit Patra, both Union Ministers visited the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Puri to review the security and surveillance arrangements
for Rath Yatra 2025.
This year’s festival marks a landmark moment with the comprehensive deployment of drone surveillance technology across key areas of the city. The system enables real-time aerial
monitoring of crowd movement, traffic flow, and potential emergencies.
Supporting the drone system are strategically installed anti-drone units designed to detect and neutralize unauthorized aerial threats, thereby ensuring a secure airspace during the grand event.
In a significant step to enhance public safety during one of India’s most revered festivals—Lord Shri Jagannath’s Rath Yatra—the Odisha Police partnered with IG Drones to implement indigenous drone and anti-drone solutions.
Recognized as a leading name in India’s defence ecosystem, IG Drones has been tasked with deploying cutting-edge aerial surveillance and counter-drone systems to ensure uninterrupted monitoring and threat prevention throughout the event.
This initiative is further bolstered by the installation of 275 AI-powered CCTV cameras, a real-time WhatsApp chatbot for public assistance, and centralized coordination through the ICCC to facilitate data-driven decision-making.
IG Drones, a homegrown startup founded in Odisha, has rapidly risen as a key player in India’s
drone technology sector, offering strategic solutions for both defence and civil safety applications.
The company recently played a crucial role in Operation Sindoor, a high-risk Indian military mission, where it provided real-time intelligence and a tactical edge in challenging terrain. The success in such defence missions is now being reflected in civil operations like the Rath Yatra, underscoring the dual-use capability of drone technology.
Both Union Ministers praised the proactive, technology-first approach of the Odisha Police and its partners.
“This is a shining example of how technology can be used to safeguard tradition. The synergy between AI, drone surveillance, and real-time command capabilities is commendable,” said Dharmendra Pradhan.
Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder and CEO of IG Drones and a native of Odisha, expressed his pride in contributing to the sacred event.
“The Rath Yatra is deeply personal to me—not just as a tech entrepreneur but as someone born and raised in Odisha. It is a moment of immense pride and responsibility to contribute to the safety of this spiritually and culturally significant event,” he said.
“This year, by integrating our advanced drone surveillance systems with anti-drone defence solutions, we are helping ensure that the Yatra remains peaceful, secure, and uninterrupted. Our aim is to empower authorities with real-time situational awareness and actionable insights, upholding both safety and sanctity,” Sanghapriya added.
He emphasized that the initiative reflects not only the dual-use potential of drone technology in both defence and civil sectors but also sets a new benchmark in leveraging indigenous technology for public safety during large-scale religious events.
The Puri Rath Yatra 2025 stands as a proud testament to how tradition and technology can advance hand in hand, creating a new standard for event management and public safety in India.
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