Ranchi, Jul 15 (PTI) Preparations are in full swing for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath here on Thursday, with elaborate security and traffic arrangements put in place for the 10-day festival, officials said.
Around 4,000 police personnel have been deployed for the yatra and the annual Jagannathpur fair at Dhurwa, to be held from July 16 to 25, while CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, watchtowers and a traffic diversion plan have also been put in place, they said.
“Around 4,000 police personnel from the Rapid Action Police (RAP), JAP-10 Women’s Battalion, district police, Home Guard and other battalions have been deployed across the venue. A control room and six watch towers have been set up. CCTV cameras have already been installed. Drone cameras will also be used for aerial surveillance,” Ranchi (City) SP Paras Rana told PTI.
He said the watchtowers would operate in shifts throughout the 10-day fair, and police personnel deployed there had been provided binoculars to keep a close watch over the entire fairground.
The yatra route has been cleared of encroachments, and barricades have been erected on both sides to facilitate the smooth movement of devotees during the pulling of the chariots, Rana said.
He said 160 personnel would join devotees in pulling the chariots to prevent any untoward incident, while three special teams had been constituted for crowd management.
“This time we are focusing on crowd control, traffic management and emergency response on the ground to ensure the safe and well-organised conduct of Jagannathpur Rath Yatra and fair. Additional security personnel have been deployed, with special focus on the safety of women and children,” he said.
Ranchi (Traffic) SP Rakesh Singh said a special traffic management plan had been rolled out as thousands of devotees were expected to participate in the Rath Yatra and visit the fair.
“Around 500 personnel have been deployed to implement the traffic diversion plan. Three major locations have been identified for vehicle parking — Shaheed Ground, Prabhat Tara Ground and the helipad near Tiril More. Besides, barricades and drop gates have been installed at 26 locations in and around the fair,” he said.
The traffic diversion plan and related arrangements would remain in force till the conclusion of the event on July 25, Singh added.
The convenience and smooth movement of devotees is of utmost priority and all departments are working in close coordination with each other, Ranchi DC Manjunath Bhajantri said.
“Devotees will not face any inconvenience, and all basic facilities, including emergency and security-related arrangements, have been made in advance. Let us all become witnesses to this sacred journey,” he said. PTI RPS RPS MNB
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