Dissemination of information to pilgrims on all aspects of the forthcoming pushkarams is the thrust area to ensure smooth conduct of the river jamboree, said Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of AP State Road Transport Corporation N. Sambasiva Rao on Saturday.
Addressing a joint press conference, organised by the RTC, the transport wing and the Police Department at the RTC House in the premises of the Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS), Mr. Sambasiva Rao said an ‘informed pilgrim’ could spare the possible complications to the authorities engaged in the Pushkarams duty.
Going by the magnitude of the event, he said it was a marathon task but the officials would do all they can to educate the pilgrims on the dos and dont’s by releasing posters, brochures and route maps to help guide the visitors to their destinations.
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“An IPS cadre officer will be posted at every bathing ghat to monitor the situation. Long-distance buses will not be allowed till PNBS and only city services will ply from here during the 12-day festival period,” he said, adding that the departments of Police, RTC and RTA were jointly working on elaborate plans to cordon off the ghat areas for security purpose.
Constant vigil
He said over 24,000 department personnel would be deployed for bandobust in addition to installation of 1,300 CC cameras to keep a constant vigil on the Pushkar Nagars and bathing ghats. Two command centres would be set up at the PNBS and at AR Grounds to ensure that the Durga temple and the ghats remain in the vigilance radar round the clock.
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Ruling out shortage of local transport facility for the huge influx of the pilgrims, Mr. Sambasiva Rao said besides 500 city bus services, 600 buses would be kept ready for use in case of emergency. For parking of private vehicles, 25 places had been identified and people must adhere by parking their vehicles in the designated places.
City Police Commissioner Goutam Sawang and other officials from the APSRTC and the Police Department were present.