70 police platoons to oversee security on Bali Yatra grounds

Cuttack: Commissionerate police have put in place elaborate security arrangements for Bali Yatra, which begins Friday on the banks of Mahanadi river in Cuttack. The maritime festival is likely to draw 3-4 lakh visitors daily. Around 70 police platoons will oversee the festival grounds, supported by an extensive surveillance network of 300 CCTV cameras and six watch towers to manage crowds and prevent eve-teasing incidents. "Two control rooms have been established to monitor all activities — one each in the upper and lower Bali Yatra grounds," said Jagmohan Meena, deputy commissioner of police, Cuttack. "We're prioritising ground surveillance and crowd management to prevent incidents like stampedes." Special attention has been given to safety measures near the Mahanadi riverbed, with proper barricading, illumination and deployment of an ORDAF team for monitoring. The police have also stationed 26 aid posts, a quick reaction team, and a special contingency team for emergency response. Traffic ACP Sushant Kumar Singh said authorities have implemented measures to ensure smooth movement. "We've widened the main paths and subways to the fair ground and added two more entry and exit points," he said. Barricades have been installed near Mata mutt on Cantonment Road and the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Visitors must park their vehicles in any of the 15 designated parking areas before the barricades. To combat petty crimes, plainclothes police will be deployed throughout the festival grounds to prevent chain snatching and pickpocketing.