Cuttack, Sept. 24: Police have decided to strengthen security measures in the city ahead of the Dussehra celebrations from October 10.

Senior officials have stressed on the importance of community policing for smooth conduct of the annual festival by increasing the number of special police officers, chosen from among the local people, and deploying them in select areas.

The police have also asked puja committees to follow fire safety norms at their puja pandals.

“At the preparatory meeting held with puja committees, we have decided to rope in extra special police officers for better co-ordination and regulation of traffic near puja pandals,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

Special police officers will be engaged in each puja pandal and the police will also seek the help of volunteers for traffic management.

“Besides the 200 police officers, we have asked puja committees to increase the number of volunteers and accordingly, we will hike the number of special police officers,” said deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar.

Kumar said that additional close circuit television (CCTV) cameras would be installed at strategic locations for better crowd control and monitoring of unlawful activities during the festival.

Sources said 12 CCTV cameras would be located at prominent locations throughout the weeklong celebrations. Only eight CCTV cameras were installed last year.

The police have also asked the puja committees, where the background of the idol is made of gold and silver to install CCTV cameras and deploy private security guards.

“We will ask fire officials to set up control rooms and deploy fire tenders at strategic locations from October 10 till the immersion ceremony,” Kumar said.

Dussehra will be organised in more than 150 puja pandals across the city while goddess Durga will be worshipped in over 80 puja pandals. Nearly 50 pandals will have hara Parbati (Lord Shiva and Goddess Parbati) as presiding deities.

Several puja committees have requested the police to extend the time limit for the use of microphones and loudspeakers so that cultural programmes can continue till midnight. At present, the time limit on musical programmes is 10pm. However, this time is usually extended during Dussehra.