Agartala will enforce evening traffic restrictions during Durga Puja to manage crowds at around 450 puja venues, with no-entry curbs, green corridors and extensive police deployment planned across the capital.
Key Takeaways:
- Several Agartala locations will face no-entry restrictions from 5 pm to 1 am during Durga Puja.
- Around 450 Pujas will be held in Agartala, backed by traffic, security and crowd-management measures.
- More than 10,000 police and TSR personnel will support the statewide security plan, with 256 help centres and enhanced surveillance.
Traffic restrictions will shape movement across Agartala during the Durga Puja days as the capital prepares for around 450 community Pujas. Authorities will impose no-entry restrictions at several locations from 5 pm to 1 am and create green corridors for emergencies and other special requirements.
The traffic measures form part of a wider security plan prepared by Tripura Police to manage the festival crowds and assist visitors. More than 10,000 police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel will be deployed across the state during the Puja days.
Evening traffic restrictions in Agartala
Officiating DGP G S Rao said traffic authorities have prepared arrangements to regulate vehicle movement in Agartala during the festival.
Several locations in the capital will come under no-entry restrictions between 5 pm and 1 am.
The restrictions aim to manage vehicle movement during the busiest hours of the festival, when large numbers of people are expected to visit puja pandals.
Around 450 Durga Pujas will be held in Agartala this year, Rao said.
The concentration of puja venues and the expected visitor movement have prompted authorities to prepare special traffic arrangements for the festival days.
Green corridors for emergencies
The authorities will also create green corridors during the Puja period.
These corridors will facilitate emergency movement and meet other special requirements when necessary.
The provision will operate alongside the traffic restrictions and wider security arrangements planned for the city.
Rao has also urged air and rail passengers to plan their journeys in advance.
Passengers travelling to the airport or railway stations should allow sufficient time because the traffic restrictions could affect movement across the city during the evening and night hours.
Security arrangement across Tripura
The Agartala traffic plan forms part of a statewide security operation.
More than 10,000 police and TSR personnel will be deployed across Tripura during Durga Puja.
Rao announced the arrangements at a press conference at the state police headquarters on Thursday.
He said the deployment will focus on maintaining law and order while assisting visitors and pandal hoppers at crowded locations.
Durga Puja is the biggest festival in the state, Rao said.
2,905 Pujas recorded so far
Police have so far recorded 2,905 community Pujas across Tripura this year.
Rao said the figure could increase because organisers still have 10 days to obtain permission and inform their respective local police stations.
Last year, 2,948 community Pujas were held across the state.
The police have expanded their assistance network this year.
A total of 256 police help centres will operate across Tripura, compared with 220 last year.
CCTV cameras and watchtowers to strengthen surveillance
Police will also strengthen surveillance at puja venues.
Around 180 to 190 CCTV cameras will be installed at different locations to monitor crowds and security conditions.
In addition, authorities will set up 159 watchtowers for closer surveillance during the celebrations.
These arrangements will complement the deployment of more than 10,000 police and TSR personnel across the state.
Patrol vans deployed in crowded markets
Markets and shops are already witnessing increased footfall as people shop ahead of Durga Puja.
Rao said 29 police patrol vans have been deployed to help ensure safe movement in crowded shopping areas.
The patrol teams will assist the public as shopping activity increases before the festival.
Police have also started coordination with Puja committees across their respective jurisdictions.
Officials from local police stations have held meetings with committee representatives to discuss security and crowd-management arrangements.
The police have asked Puja committees to deploy volunteers at their respective pandals.
The volunteers will assist visitors and help manage crowds at the venues.
Special arrangements for women and railway passengers
A police control room will operate round the clock throughout the festival.
It will coordinate security operations and respond to public needs during the celebrations.
The police will also increase the deployment of women personnel during the Puja days.
The additional personnel will assist women visitors and provide support at crowded locations.
Special security arrangements will also be made for railway passengers during the festival.
Police urge passengers to plan ahead
Rao has advised people travelling by air and rail to plan their journeys in advance.
He urged passengers to allow sufficient time to reach the airport and railway stations because of the traffic restrictions in Agartala.
The advisory is particularly relevant during the evening period, when the no-entry restrictions will remain in force at several locations.
The authorities will use the traffic restrictions, green corridors, patrols and wider security deployment to manage festival movement.
The overall arrangements aim to allow people to visit puja venues safely while maintaining peace and order across Agartala and the rest of Tripura.
