The state government is gearing up to observe the closing ceremony of Prakash Utsav - the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh.

The closing ceremony will be organised from December 23-25. On Tuesday, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) held a meeting in this regard chaired by its commissioner Abhishek Singh and attended by all executive officers, chief engineers and executive engineers of different divisions.

"Directions have been given to all officers to gear up for the ceremony," Singh said about what transpired at the meet. "All officers have been directed to make a timeline for the ceremony. We need to address issues related to infrastructure, like roads, toilets, urinals, drinking water and streetlights on priority basis."

The commissioner said special emphasis would be laid on sanitation and cleanliness programme. "We have decided to outsource some wards from Patna City area for a month for sanitation purpose, just as we did during the opening ceremony in January," Singh said. "Outsourcing will not only help timely completion of work, but also ensure quality."

The focus of preparatory work for the event will be in Patna City area, as most of programmes will be held there itself, unlike in January when most events were organised in Gandhi Maidan area. Even, accommodation for pilgrims coming from outside will be arranged in the City area.

But the agency hired this time will be required to complete work within 30 days, as against 45 days given in January. Singh said projects would be rolled out in November.

To cope with growing responsibilities and to address the issue of equipment shortage, PMC has decided to procure modern sophisticated machines and ensure quality sanitation services for residents.

At a meeting on July 28, Singh had proposed phasing out of all tractors engaged in garbage collection from areas under PMC's jurisdiction and replace them with auto tippers (auto trolleys).

PMC currently has 110 auto tippers, against the required 160. Soon, proposals would be put forward in the newly constituted board to purchase more auto tippers of larger size, a PMC official said on Wednesday.

Similarly, corporation has decided to buy state-of-the-art road sweeping machines, which will include power brooms and mounted sweeping trucks. Currently, PMC does not have any such machine. The Biharsharif Municipal Corporation had lent it the same during Prakash Utsav event in January.