Tight security for Jagannath daru yatra through Odisha capital

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, May 17:

Twin City commissionerate police have made elaborate security arrangements to provide foolproof security to Lord Jagannath’s daru sagadi (cart) yatra which would pass through Odisha’s capital city late on Sunday night to Puri.

Talking to the OST, Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said 18 platoons of police forces will be deployed for smooth movement of the daru sagadi.

“The daru sagadi (cart) will move in a security cordon while police would keep a close watch to ensure that no visitor breaks into the cordon”, he added.

Lord Jagannath daru which had a night halt at Telenga Pentha in Cuttack, will begin its yatra this morning and reach Fulanakhara at around 7 PM. From there, the sagadi will reach Pandara on the outskirts of capital city at around 1.30 AM .

“Movement of heavy vehicles will not be allowed on National Highway- 5 from 7 PM onwards tomorrow for the smooth movement of the sagadi yatra. For this, traffic system has been slightly changed with one-way traffic arrangement by the commissionerate police”, the DCP informed.

He said taking into account the huge number of devotees who had thronged to see Lord Jagannath daru in Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack, this time deployment of police force and traffic system have been tightened to control the crowd and vehicles at Pahala and Pandara square.

“As more crowds at these places are expected, traffic police have been deployed at Palasuni bypass from where the cart will be diverted and take the Bhubaneswar-Puri new highway to reach Pipili,” he said.

“No heavy vehicles coming from Cuttack will be allowed for which traffic mobile unit and striking forces will be deployed on the NH 5 for this purpose,” added the DCP.