Bhubaneswar, March 5: Elaborate security arrangements have been made in and around Lingaraj temple in the Odisha capital for Shivratri festival on Monday.
Around 18 platoons of police force would be deployed around the temple as lakhs devotees will throng the shrine on the occasion, said Additional Commissioner of Police PS Ransipe. Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said cops will try to ensure that no incidents of pickpocket, snatch or eve-teasing take place during the event.
“Our main role will be crowd control at strategic points and managing traffic on the roads leading to the temple,” said Bhoi. A preparatory was held on Thursday wherein local MLA and culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Panda, Bhubaneswar (Central) MLA Bijay Mohanty, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena attended.
Barricades have already been put up on the temple premises to streamline the entry of pilgrims for darshan of the deity in the temple. The police have also earmarked several spaces in and around the area for parking of vehicles.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation plans to provide drinking water for the devotees, besides undertaking sanitation work around the temple.
