As many as 47 platoons of police and scores of officers of different ranks have been deployed in Puri town and at the Shree Jagannath Temple for smooth darshan of deities during the New Year holidays, informed SP Ashis Kumar Singh.
Singh said pilgrims and visitors are being checked at the metal detector gates before entering into the temple. The vendors along the Grand Road have been relocated for smooth movement of pilgrims. The area between the Marichikot to the Singhadwar has been made no vending and parking zone. CCTV cameras have been installed at strategic places to monitor the crowd movement, he said.
According to information, thousands of pilgrims and tourists are pouring into the city to enjoy the winter holidays and celebrate the New Year. All the hotels, lodging houses and holiday homes are running in full capacity. Except star hotels, all other hotels have increased their room rents. Nearby tourist spots like Chilika lake-Satpara, Ramchandi, Harchandi and Konark also witnesses heavy rush of visitors and picnic parties. Boat owners at Chilika too have increased hire. A large number of tourists flock to see dolphins in the lake.