The city police have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the “Sahid Divas” rally on 21 July organised by the ruling Trinamul Congress at Esplanade.
Kolkata police have pulled out all stops to ensure an incident-free 21 July as a 5,000-strong police force will be on the streets to maintain law and order.
“All precautionary measures have been taken to ensure an incident-free rally on Sunday. Elaborate arrangements had been put in place for the rallyists to make it to the venue at Esplanade. All the divisional DCs have been asked to be on the streets on the rally day,” said Mr Javed Shamim, Jt Commissioner (head quarters).
Commenting on the security arrangements, a senior officer said that Quick Response Teams (QRT ), Rapid Action force( RAF) personnel will be out in full force on the streets to avert any untoward incidents. Apart from this, keeping in view the huge turn-out and the sweltering heat that the city is experiencing, various medical units ranging from ambulance to trauma care vehicles have been kept ready and will be on the streets on the rally day, said the officer
DMG personnel will also be on duty to attend to any exigency that may arise on the day. To maintain a vigil round the clock on the dais where the chief minister Ms Mamata Banerjee and her council of ministers apart from other dignitaries, will be present, watch towers has been erected.
Fire brigade personnel too will be posted in case of a firerelated case. Every entry and exit point will be manned by police personnel.
Specially made barricades will be put to use to deal with the crowd.
To facilitate people who cannot make it to the rally, giant screens would be put up at different intersections. Kolkata traffic police sources said restrictions would be imposed on various stretches on big thoroughfares from 4.00 a.m to 9.00 p.m.
The roads to be regulated for vehicular traffic are Amherst Street (North to South), Bidhan Sarani (from K C Sen Street to Vivekananda Road) (South to North), College Street (South to North), Brabourne Road (North to South), Strand Road (from Hare Street to Raja Woodmunt Street) (South to North), B B Ganguly Street East to West, Bentinck Street (South to North), New CIT Road (West to East), Rabindra Sarani (from BK Paul Avenue to Lalbazar Street) (South to North). Movement of all types of goods vehicles will be restricted within the city from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m on 21 July in view of the rally.
Traffic department sources said that vehicles of all descriptions won’t be allowed to park at the thoroughfares and roads on that day, particularly in the Esplanade area.