A detailed security scheme has been chalked out by the City Police for the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival at Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple on January 8. The scheme has been drafted anticipating a large turn out of devotees on the eve and on the day of the festival that falls on a Sunday. In addition to mobilising City Police personnel, manpower strength has been augmented from various districts to beef up security in the temple town and regulate vehicular movements.
Around 4,500 police personnel would be deployed on the day of the festival when the ‘Paramapadha Vaasal’ will be opened in the early hours.
Police personnel from various districts in the central zone, south zone, west and north zones have been roped in to shore up security, said police sources.
The total manpower strength includes seven Superintendents of Police, 12 Additional Superintendents of Police, 41 Assistant Commissioners of Police / Deputy Superintendents of Police, around 800 personnel from the Tamil Nadu Special Police and nearly 750 personnel from the Armed Reserve.
To bolster surveillance, the City Police has installed Closed Circuit Television Unit cameras at 47 vantage points inside the sprawling temple complex this time. In addition to this, speed dome cameras have been installed at three vital points at the temple. Public address system has been put up at 70 spots to convey important information to public.
As part of the security arrangements, watch towers along with public address system would be established at 13 locations outside the temple in an effort to prevent crimes. Anti-sabotage teams armed with necessary paraphernalia would be deployed at important spots.
A fleet of 12 ambulances would be stationed on the four important ‘Veedhis’ to attend to any emergency situation. Police assistance booths would be put up inside the temple; at parking lots, Amma Mandapam road, Renga Renga Gopuram and at Vadakku Madevi road to guide devotees and extend help to them.
The police have spelt out the path to be taken by devotees going for free darshan besides pass holders and “ubhayadharargals” for entry inside the temple before the opening of the ‘Paramapadha Vaasal’ and the exit route thereafter.
LED and LCD television sets would be installed at different places to enable the public view the festival. A total number of 14 spots have been identified for parking of vehicles around the temple to ensure free flow of traffic.
Ahead of the festival, a security-related meeting of the Superintendents of Police and Additional Superintendents of Police was held at the City Police Office here on Friday.
