17,500 policemen to be drafted for Krishna Pushkaralu

Vijayawada: Commissioner of Police Gautam Sawang has said that 17,500 police personnel will be drafted for Krishna Pushkaralu duty in the limits of the Vijayawada police Commissionerate. He said 19 IPS officers and other higher officials will monitor the conduct of 12-day Krishna Pushkaralu that begins on August 12.

Addressing media conference at his office here on Friday, Gautam Sawang said 1,300 CC cameras will be installed in different parts of the city particularly at the bathing ghats and drones will be pressed into service for surveillance at the ghats and other places. He informed that 29 bathing ghats are under the limits of the Commissioner.

Referring to traffic in the city, the Commissioner said heavy vehicles will not be allowed into the city during the Pushkaralu. He said heavy vehicles will be parked in six parking places identified in the city. He said movement of vehicles near the bathing ghats and areas like Arjuna Street and Brahmin Street will be restricted as a large number of pilgrims will visit One Town.

Gautam Sawang said police would follow ‘hold and release’ procedure at the bathing ghats to check heavy rush at the bathing ghats. He said adequate measures will be taken on crowd management.

He maintained that the officials will get information on how many pilgrims are visiting the bathing ghats from intelligence sources, CC cameras and drones. The Commissioner said APSRTC will operate buses from Pushkar ghats to bathing ghats. Asked about the VIP ghat, the Commissioner said some part of the Punnami ghat will be used as VIP ghat.

He said seven A+ category bathing ghats are under the limits of the Commissionerate in Vijayawada. He said 17,500 police personnel will join duty on August 8 and the State government is seeking help from other States for the successful conduct of Pushkaralu.