Bhubaneswar: The state government has requested the Centre for a unit of the elite National Security Guards (NSG) to add teeth to security arrangements for the ensuing Rath Yatra festival.
A high level meeting, chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) RP Sharma, on security arrangements for the upcoming Rath Yatra at Puri was held at the DGP camp office here Saturday.
As lakhs throng the Holy City during the festival, the meeting decided to deploy around 1,000 police personnel and 2,000 home guards at different places in the city. That apart, 145 platoons of armed police will also be deployed at various places across the city.
Additional DGP Satyajit Mohanty has been entrusted with the overall security management during the festival. Top officers of the department will look after different aspects of security during the festival.
Officials informed that in view of the festival, Puri has been divided into four zones and each of them has been further divided into seven sectors. Senior police officers will be given special charge of every sector and zone.
However, the meeting decided to divide the city into 28 sectors for ensuring hassle free vehicular movement.
CCTVs will be installed at select areas for better traffic management, most importantly at the railway station and its nearby areas for keeping a close eye on the passengers.
Around 300 additional life guards along with the regular 100 life guards will be deployed at the beach.
Besides, two companies — one each of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Odisha Swift Action Force (OSAF) — will be engaged to maintain law and order. During the nine-day celebration, the police department has decided to deploy two units of Special Operation Group (SOG).
To deal with any eventuality, one unit of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and two units of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) will be stationed in the city.
Sharma also informed that the state police have requested the Centre to provide a unit of the National Security Guards (NSG), the elite anti-terrorist force.
All the stakeholders present at the meeting deliberated on various important issues regarding internal security along with the aerial and coastal security.
The officials also discussed about the deployment of police force and selection of places for their accommodation and traffic management. Suitable places for parking of the large number of vehicles of the visitors was also an important topic during the meeting. A hassle free visit for VIP visitors during the festival was also discussed at the meeting. The deliberations laid special focus on the security of senior citizens, women and children.