Heavy police arrangements in Puri for New Year celebration

PURI, Dec  29: Puri district police have  made massive police bandobast in this pilgrim town keeping in view the arrival of  large  number of  tourists to visit sri Jagannath temple  on new year eve.

The tourist flow has been increasing with every passing day. A large number of Vehicle-borne visitors from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other states have been staying in hotels and guest houses to celebrate the new year.

Almost all the hotels are running full in the town.

Puri Superintendent of police K.Vishal Singh told media persons that the entire town including the Sri Jagannath temple have been divided into five divisions and  further into nine sectors.

These include the in and outside perimeter of the Sri Jagannath temple, Grand Road, Sea beach and other strategic places of tourist gathering.

The arrangements are  made to regulate the large number of vehicular traffic while scores of life guards will be deployed along the Puri beach to prevent drowning in sea.

Three police out-posts to help visitors will operate along the various places of the beach. Patrolling along the beach line will be intensified. Police will install a centre to get feedback from the visitors and devotees.

Apart from these, a portion of Grand Road from Simhadwar to Marichikot square will be notified as no vehicle zone.

Arrangements will be made for transportation of differently abled, senior citizens and children to the temple for darshan while an ambulance corridor will be created to shift the sick to hospital ,the SP informed.

From the new year, devotees will pass  through the barricaded AC Shed corridor and enter into the temple through Simhadwar and exit by North gate.

There will be no restriction for local residents, Singh  said, adding  efforts are on to streamline the arrangements for smooth conduct of the huge pilgrims and visitors during the new year. (UNI)