Tight Security, No-Vehicle-Zone On Grand Road For New Year In Odisha’s Puri

Puri: Elaborate security arrangements are being made in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri, particularly around the Jagannath Temple, for the New Year.

The areas around the 12th century shrine and other places will be put under tight security as a large number of visitors are expected to throng the pilgrim town, Superintendent of Police Kanwar Vishal Singh said on Friday.

Stating that the security arrangements will be divided into five parts, he said no vehicle will be allowed to ply on the Grand Road from Marichikote square. Separate darshan arrangements will be made for divyang and senior citizens.

A green corridor will be created for plying of emergency vehicles like ambulance, while a feedback centre will be set up near the Srimandir to collect feedback from the devotees after darshan.

Beach area will be made a hotspot patrolling area and three police outposts will be set up there to prevent any untoward incident.

The main focus will be on ensuring hassle-free darshan for the devotees during the New Year. “We have divided our security arrangements into 4-5 parts. First is visible policing and anti-crime drive. Second part is the darshan which has been further separated for inside and outside the temple,” the SP said

The outside darshan arrangement is divided into nine sectors while the inside darshan arrangement is divided into seven sectors. Sufficient security forces, including DSP rank police officers, have been deployed across the town.

Beach area will be made a no-vehicle zone like last year. Maximum focus will be given to facilitate the devotees and visitors to get them to the designated parking areas as quickly as possible.