Workers decorate the stage at Gandhi Maidan on the eve of Republic Day. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Jan. 25: A spate of criminal incidents has forced the city police to pull up their sleeves to ensure a peaceful Republic Day.

For the occasion, vehicles would be diverted at many places to ensure smooth traffic flow towards Gandhi Maidan, where the grand ceremony would be held.

Security at important zones, including the high court and the secretariat area, has been beefed up, the police said. Police sources said vehicles plying to and from the Raj Bhavan area till Gandhi Maidan will have to go through stringent checks.

Six groups of police’s Quick Response Team will be present and tour different areas of the city to deal with any untoward incident.

The Special Branch of the police will take a tour of the Gandhi Maidan at 6am tomorrow and will give a report before the ceremony starts.

“The station house officers of different police stations have been asked to stay alert and keep an eye on suspicious persons or vehicles. There will be police presence in tall buildings like the State Bank of India, the Biscomaun Towers near Gandhi Maidan. Special security will be provided to buildings like the Patna High Court and the state secretariat,” an officer said.

Police sources said the area around Gandhi Maidan would be patrolled with bullet-proof vehicles.

“The SHOs of all the police stations in Patna have been asked to patrol their respective areas mainly between 6am and 12 noon. Police constables would guard the major roundabouts of the city,” an officer added.

The road leading to the west of Gandhi Maidan, from the Children’s Park till the Income Tax roundabout will be shut from 7am till the ceremony gets over, a traffic police said.

All vehicles will be detoured from Children’s Park to Golghar. Also, the road from the New Dakbungalow Road to the Swami Nandan T-junction will be closed, the police said.

In addition to this, all roads moving to the east between the Kotwali T-junction and the Buddha Marg will be closed. The road from the Dakbungalow roundabout to JP roundabout (near Maurya Hotel) and Frazer Road will also be closed till the ceremony ends, police said.