With hundreds of visitors thronging the Cauvery bed for an evening hangout, the city police have ramped up security at the ‘summer beach'.
Police personnel deployed at the ‘summer beach' have been equipped with latest paraphernalia to aid in their bandobust duty.
Headed by a Sub Inspector of Police, the 15-member police team has been armed with megaphones, video cameras and search lights in addition to walkie-talkie sets.
The team would also be equipped with a night vision device soon. Police sources here say the gadgets had been provided to help them in their assigned task.
A few among the team members have been assigned with the specific job of keeping a watch on the movements of any anti-social elements with a view to preventing offences at the recreation spot which has attracted city residents ever since the dry river bed was thrown open to the public last month.
The nearly one kilometre stretch from the Garuda Mandapam bathing ghat to the Cauvery bridge has been turned into a temporary recreation spot through a joint effort by the Corporation and the Public Works Department by clearing the bushes and making provision for lighting facilities along the dry river bed and installing water tanks.
Police sources say a few men from the Armed Reserve Police have been drawn to be part of the police team for bandobust duty.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Srirangam range, and the Inspector of Srirangam police station carry out rounds periodically at the recreation spot.
Bandobust is provided from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Separate strength has been set aside for traffic regulation near Mambazha Salai in Srirangam, a senior police officer said adding that the team members kept changing every day.
The ‘summer beach' attracts an average turn out of about 3,000 persons every day, the officer said.
