Over 7K cops keeping strict watch

Over 7K cops keeping strict watch

Pune: Over 7,000 police personnel are keeping round-the-clock watch during the Ganesh Festival in the city. About 3,000 students have also been given awareness information about how to identify suspicious objects and they are also acting as the eyes and ears of the cops. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Mitesh Ghatte said the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) teams are regularly checking the mandals’ premises to prevent any untoward incident. Sniffer dogs have also been roped in to check the areas for any suspicious objects. 

According to police officials, thousands of people throng the five big Ganesh mandals, where slides made by the BDDS regarding awareness about suspicious objects are being shown on big screens every hour. 

“The BDDS team is conducting strict checks at the Ganesh mandals and we have also shared checklist and instructions with members of the concerned mandals. They are announcing instructions every 15 minutes on speakers to spread awareness among visitors. Our teams have visited several schools and colleges and interacted with about 3,000 students. Till now, our teams have inspected 68 Ganpati mandals,” said DCP Ghatte.

Traffic diversions from Friday

From September 6, the fifth day of Ganeshotsav till the last day of the festival, Pune city police traffic branch has imposed restrictions including some complete road closures due to rush of people to the central part (peth areas) of the city.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pankaj Deshmukh said the restrictions will be in place from September 6 to September 11 from 5 pm onwards till the time the crowd of visitors subsides. A large number of people from Pune and outside visit the Ganesh pandals located mainly in the peth areas. The restrictions will not be applicable to emergency and police vehicles. 

During the time slots, Laxmi Road will remain closed from Hamze Khan Chowk to Tilak Chowk. The traffic will be diverted from Dulya Maruti Chowk, Khadiche Maidan and Maharana Pratap Road and Ghorpade Peth. 

Shivaji Road will remain closed from Gadgil Statue to Jedhe Chowk. The commuters coming from Shivajinagar have been advised to take the route from SG Barve Chowk, Jangli Maharaj (JM) Road, Alka Chowk and  either Tilak Road or Shastri Road. 

From Kumbhar Ves Chowk, the traffic will be diverted via Pawale Chowk, Sat Toti Chowk and Devaji Baba Chowk. 

Bajirao Road will remain closed from Puram Chowk to Appa Balwant Chowk and the traffic will remain diverted via Kelkar Road. 

On Tilak Road, the traffic will be closed from MCCIA building till Hirabag Chowk, except for the PMPML buses and three-wheeler rickshaws. 

On the following road stretches, the police may close the traffic as and when required and alternative routes will be made available: Sinhagad Garage to Hirabag Chowk, Jawalkar Road to Hirabag Chowk, Anant Naik Road to Tilak Road, Sanas Road to Govind Halwai Chowk, Ganj Peth to Vastad Talim and Kohinoor Chowk to Babajan Chowk. 

The police said that some of the connecting by-lanes of the main roads will be closed by putting barricades during this period.

Temporary ‘No Parking’ zones will be created in these areas also.

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com