The administration has decided to build watchtowers and widen the nine gates of Gandhi Maidan, keeping safety of revellers and the Dussehra stampede in mind.

The work would start by December 2014. The decision was taken last week at a meeting by a committee formed for security, maintenance and development of the ground.

Patna divisional commissioner Narmadeshwar Lal chaired the meeting attended by Patna district magistrate (DM) Abhay Kumar Singh, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Kuldip Narayan and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jitendra Rana. As the building construction department is the parent body for the upkeep of the ground, the department’s engineer-in-chief, Rajendra Prasad Choudhary, was also present.

Abhay told The Telegraph: “Earlier, an approval to construct the watchtowers and widen the gates was given in-principle but now the final approval has been given in this regard. The tendering work is in process. The building construction department has been asked to look into the tendering. By December, the actual work would start.”

He added: “Watchtowers would be constructed near every gate for proper monitoring. Order has also been given to widen the gates from 16ft to 25ft. A 6ft-wide side-gate also has to be built.”

Gandhi Maidan is also likely to be divided into at least six sections. The decision on how to split the area would be taken in a week. The division of the ground assumes significance as 33 people were killed in a stampede on Dussehra after the administration failed to manage the crowd.”

“It is for sure that the ground would be divided into sections. It could be split into four or six but the final decision would be taken in another meeting within a week. There are several ways to divide the ground like barricading, demarcation by constructing a road or some other way. However, these are just suggestions coming in but the divisional commissioner would take the call because the committee functions under his guidance,” said Abhay.

The committee dedicated to look after the maintenance, beautification and security of the ground remained non-functional on Dussehra. The state government had spent Rs 8.5 crore for the beautification of the greens spread across 62 acres.

Once the ground is divided into sections, the crowd could be controlled in a much better way, said the DM.

The panel was formed on the pattern of SK Memorial Hall committee in which a separate department was responsible for any work undertaken. The Gandhi Maidan was earlier under the DM.

The maintenance of the ground assumes significance as earlier, there was virtually no one to look after the ground that organises several political and commercial events.

“Once the ground is divided into sections, the money would be charged for booking of certain sections only. It would be convenient for the administration as well as for the organiser. The rates would be decided later,” said Abhay.