Odisha’s Puri To Come Under CCTV Surveillance; Spl Arrangements For Kartika Brata

Puri: A CCTV network along with multi-departmental command and control room project proposal for Puri has been sent to the Odisha government, district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain told the media on Wednesday.

“An extensive proposal has been prepared from traffic point of view, to identify encroachers and help police to monitor the city. Special strategy has been made to install CCTV cameras for smooth crowd management, and also to make Puri town free of crime,” he said.

More than 600 high-capacity CCTV cameras will be installed across the Puri town, including sea beach and all the entry points and streets and will be connected to a command and control room, he added.

Notably, CCTV cameras in the pilgrim town were damaged during cyclone Fani. 

Meanwhile, 20 platoon of police force along with two additional SP, 9 DSP and 10 inspectors have been deployed in the town for monthlong Radha Damodar Kartika Brata. A 24/7 police control room will also be opened near Singhadwara of Shree Jagannath Temple to assist the devotees. “Special arrangements have been made by police in Puri for the holy month, which will begin from October 17. Cops will also be deployed at the four accommodations and pilgrimage ponds for safety and security of Habisyalis, the elderly women who observe fast during this month. We are aiming at hassle-free darshan and smooth crowd regulation,” said Puri SP Vinit Agarwal.

This year the administration will host 2,500 habisyalis in five buildings and funds for the same have already been allocated by the state government.

During the month-long brata, the administration will take care of their boarding, food (Mahaprasad) and engage priests to perform daily rituals, and conduct bhajan kirtan. Vehicles will also be provided for transporting devotees to Shree Jagannath Temple for darshan of the deities.

Habisyalis intending to observe the the brata at government expenses were asked to register their names online and file their applications for listing on www.edistrict.odisha.gov.in portal before October 11.