As devotees throng Kurukshetra, smooth traffic management tough task for administration, police

As lakhs of devotees are set to reach Kurukshetra for the International Gita Mahotsav (IGM), ensuring a smooth traffic movement in the city will be a cumbersome task for the police and the district administration.

The city area witnesses a heavy flow of traffic movement, leading to traffic jams during the mahotsav, especially during the main events of the mahotsav due to the VIP movement. From removing encroachments to deployment of riders and monitoring through the CCTVs, the Police Department has chalked out its strategy to monitor and maintain the traffic movement.

Speaking to The Tribune, Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Nitish Agarwal said, “A complete strategy has been chalked out to ensure a smooth traffic movement during the International Gita Mahotsav. A meeting has been called in which the directions will be issued to the officials concerned. Soon a special drive will be organised to remove the encroachments from the major roads, while over 20 riders will be deployed to monitor the traffic movement in the city.”

“Nearly 35 check-posts (10 near Brahma Sarovar, and 25 in the outer area) will be established to maintain the law and order situation and manage the traffic movement. Besides, the traffic routes will be diverted during the mahotsav, monitoring will be done through the CCTV cameras installed in the city and foot patrolling will also be done. Adequate parking arrangements will also be made so that the devotees and visitors don’t have to face any inconvenience,” he added.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to visit Kurukshetra for the International Gita Mahotsav, the district administration has also intensified its preparations.

Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena, said “For the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Kurukshetra during the IGM and preparations are being done accordingly. The PM will also attend the state-level event being organised to commemorate the Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur on November 25. Duties have been assigned and directions have been issued to complete the arrangements in time.”

The officials of the Kurukshetra Development Board, Health Department, Public Health Engineering Department, Municipal Council, Public Works Department, Forest, Zila Parishad, Marketing Board and other departments concerned have been assigned duties. The DC said the officials were told that keeping protocol in mind, all officers would perform their duties with diligence and honesty; and there should be no shortcomings at any level. Lakhs of devotees would reach Kurukshetra for these events, hence a campaign would be launched to remove encroachments from National Highway 44, 152D and the main roads of the city.