Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 7: SMVDSB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anshul Garg in a meeting here today reviewed preparations for upcoming Navratra Festival scheduled to start on October 15 and continue till October 23, 2023.
The meeting was attended by Additional CEO SMVDSB, SSP Reasi, Commandant CRPF, Joint Chief Executive Officers SMVDSB, SP Katra, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bhawan and Katra, Deputy CEOs, Assistant CEO SMVDSB, SDPO Katra and officers from Army, IB, CID, Fire Services, SMVDSB and other agencies.
The CEO underscored that the Board is expecting heavy influx of devotees at the Holy Shrine and at the base camp Katra during upcoming Navratras and stressed on synergy between all stakeholders.
Laying focus on smooth regulation of Yatra as per directions of Chairman SMVDSB (J&K LG), the CEO said that apart from deployment of security personnel, CCTVs will be acting as watchdogs en-route Bhawan and Katra besides the stakeholders shall ensure that pilgrims before embarking on Yatra, wear valid RFID card at all times as they are linked with various facilities during Yatra and no pilgrim shall be allowed to start Yatra without a valid RFID card.
He enjoined representatives of security agencies that no pilgrim without frisking and registration enters the track for pilgrimage.
The CEO directed SDM Katra for verification and census of pony porters to check any suspicious element on track and robust extensive checking for overcharging of fare at different places in Katra.
Furthermore, the CEO reviewed various components of Disaster Management measures including fire fighting preparedness to ensure quick and effective response from all stakeholders in the wake of any emergent situation.
He directed that SDRF personnel in sync with DMTF shall monitor vulnerable places and jointly conduct simulating exercises to deal with crowd management for effective Yatra management.
He also directed concerned quarters at Bhawan for regular announcements and monitoring of beats by joint teams of stakeholders as per practice in vogue for decongestion of crowd on the track with identification of the holding areas.
SSP Reasi and Commandant, CRPF presented detailed security grid and discussed various security measures for Navratras at Katra and en-route Holy Shrine besides deployment of Quick Response Teams and a multi-tier security grid comprising police, CRPF and other paramilitary forces.
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