It’s not for the Durga Puja alone; the massive police deployment in Cuttack is also expected to ensure to protect life and property of the people in view of the looming cyclonic storm that is likely to hit the Odisha coast on Friday evening.
Three Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), 14 anti-liquor squads and three anti-terrorist squads along with 40 platoons of armed police would be deployed in the city for the five-day Pujas which began across the State on Thursday with the Mahasasthi Puja.
Twin City Police Commissioner RK Sharma informed that the police would remain alert to protect life and property of the people as Cuttack and 14 other districts are likely to experience a severe cyclone during the Pujas.
He said an additional 12 platoons of police force would be deployed in the city for the immersion festival on October 15, in which the idols of all the 150-odd Puja pandals of the city would go on a colourful procession to immerse the deities in river waters.
Traffic arrangements have also been upgraded with one-way movement in major roads from Wednesday.
The city has been divided into four traffic zones having two sectors each. While an ACP and deputy commandants would be in charge of a zone, a sub-inspector would lead a sector.
Besides, there will be 28 traffic aid posts, including six main posts, across the city to ensure smooth traffic movement and nine additional posts will be in place for the immersion festival.
Elaborating the deployment of anti-terrorist squads, a senior police officer informed that the squads would be deployed at all the three entry points of the city at Jobra, Naraj and Balikuda. Each Morcha would have three officers and a section of force equipped with automatic weapons.
The city police have also given special police powers to at least 953 civilians drawn from each of the 155 Puja Committees.
They will work in close coordination with the police to man their respective Puja Mandaps.
At least five volunteers from each puja mandap will also assist the police in traffic management.
While 155 Mandaps are erected in the city alone, there are 26 Mandaps under the Cuttack Sadar police station, 16 under the Kandarpur PS, four under the Baranga PS, 12 under the Choudwar PS and 11 under the Jagatpur PS.