Ganesh fest: Tight security in Khairatabad

​Hyderabad: The Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee, which oversees the Ganesh festivities at Khairatabad, in association with the Hyderabad police has made tight security arrangements for the 11-day festivities that are set to begin form Thursday. With the Khairatabad Ganesh being the tallest idols in the State inviting huge influx of devotees, the police and the committee have made all necessary security arrangements for darshan of the lord. 

Speaking to The Hans India, Central Zone DCP P Viswa Prasad said a thorough CCTV surveillance and monitoring would be carried out on all 11 days round-the-clock. One DSP, two Inspectors and eight sub-inspectors with four platoons of armed reserve force, two women platoons would be deployed on the premises. While one control room was established for the police, VHF communication was provided for police coordination. Mufti police, special branch and intelligence sleuths would also monitor.

He further added that the security would be doubled during weekends and holidays when the number of devotees increase. Police is expecting around 5 to 7 lakh devotees on weekends. The Committee has, meanwhile, arranged six Door Frame Metal Detectors at the Ganesh Centre besides signages, indicator board to show direction towards the Mahaganapathi. 

Three separate queue lines, one for VVIPs,  another for VIPs and the third one for the general public would be maintained and devotees would be allowed to take the darshan since early morning. Separate barricades were installed to maintain the crowd. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Water Board and Health department has made all necessary arrangements for the festivities.

According to Committee members, the idol this time is 57-feet high and 24-feet wide weighing more than 45 tonnes. More than 150 artists from Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata worked for more than 14 hours a day since May 25 and prepared the giant Ganesh idol. 

Traffic curbs
Traffic restrictions will be imposed from 3pm everyday in order to relieve congestion, to maintain smooth flow of traffic and to ensure public safety and order on Ganesh premises. Traffic coming from Mint Compound lane and Necklace Rotary will not be allowed towards Khairtabad Library and Ganesh idol, and would be diverted at Government Printing Press. Similarly, traffic coming from Rajiv Gandhi statue will not be allowed towards Khairatabad Library and will be diverted towards Nirankari Bhavan at Rajiv Gandhi statue.

Traffic coming from Rajdoot Hotel Lane, Khairatabad market by lane will not be allowed towards Khairatabad Library beyond MCH sanitary ward office No.6 and will be diverted towards Printing Press and market route. Citizens are requested to take alternate routes to reach their destinations and cooperate with the traffic police. one special platoon of Reserved Force will be deployed at the venue to assist traffic police for avoiding any inconvenience to the visitors.