Bhubaneswar: With lakhs of devotees likely to throng Odisha’s coastal pilgrimage hubs for the sacred occasions of Panchuka, Kartika Purnima, and Anla Nabami, police have significantly ramped up its security and crowd management apparatus.
Senior police officials reviewed the preparedness at Shree Jagannath Temple and Sakhigopal Temple in Puri district in view of the anticipated large congregation of devotees, official sources said on Sunday.
Satyajit Naik, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Central Range, Kataka, along with Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh, officers of the Srimandir Special Security Battalion (SSMSV) and other senior police officials, reviewed the security arrangements at Shree Jagannath Temple.
The review was conducted under the direction and guidance of the Director General of Police (DGP), Odisha, as part of the police administration’s efforts to ensure peaceful and orderly celebrations during the upcoming religious occasions.
During the review, the IGP assessed the overall security preparedness, focusing on crowd regulation, police deployment, traffic management, queue arrangements and the smooth movement of devotees in and around the temple premises.
He stressed the need for meticulous planning, effective coordination among various stakeholder departments and continuous monitoring to ensure a safe, smooth and hassle-free darshan experience for devotees.
The IGP also reviewed the security and crowd management arrangements at Sakhigopal Temple in connection with Anla Nabami and the sacred Radha Pada Darshan, which draw a large number of devotees from different parts of Odisha and beyond.
The review covered police deployment, traffic regulation, parking arrangements, access control and coordination with temple authorities and other concerned departments to facilitate the orderly movement of devotees.
Naik issued necessary instructions to the officers concerned to maintain heightened vigilance, strengthen ground-level supervision and remain prepared to respond promptly to any eventuality.
He emphasised that all arrangements should be implemented in a coordinated and disciplined manner, with the safety, convenience and comfort of devotees remaining the top priority.
Police remain committed to ensuring peaceful and well-organised religious celebrations through proactive policing, robust security arrangements, efficient traffic regulation and effective crowd management, officials said.