Jawans of Orissa Armed Police turn out Independence Day rehearsals at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 13: The Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police have made elaborate security and traffic arrangements for Independence Day celebrations as part of which the state level parade will be held on Mahatma Gandhi Marg.

As a huge turnout is expected, 23 platoons of police will be deployed while vehicles coming to the parade venue will be diverted from several junctions.

Besides this, police have made security arrangements to thwart a possible threat from Maoists who will observe a black day on August 15. Commissioner of police Bijay Kumar Sharma said the arrangements were based on intelligence inputs. “We have made spot-wise security arrangements and our personnel will be deployed at particular spots and areas to keep a watch on the public,” said Sharma.

A senior police officer said that 23 platoons of police along with two units of Special Operation Group (SOG), two platoons of Special Security Battalion (SSB) and 100 Armed Police Reserve (APR) personnel would be deployed. “Four watch towers have been erected along the parade route on which armed police will be positioned. Security staff would also be deployed at high-rise buildings near the parade path. Sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads will be ready,” said the officer adding that police in civil dress would also be deployed at various places.

Traffic would be regulated on Mahatma Gandhi Marg from 6.30am till the end of the parade. All approach lanes to the Mahatma Gandhi Marg would be sealed and only pedestrians would be allowed to enter the parade venue.

The sale of balloons and any dangerous or explosive substances would be prohibited in the area between PMG Square and Master Canteen Square on Independence Day from 6.30am onwards till the end of the parade.

According to a notice issued by the police, heavy vehicles would not be allowed to come towards Master Canteen Square either from Ram Mandir crossing or from Raj Mahal Square during the parade. There would, however, be no restrictions on two-wheelers and light vehicles coming to Master Canteen from Ram Mandir and Raj Mahal. But no such vehicles would be allowed to enter the Mahatma Gandhi Marg on August 15.

Similarly, vehicles coming towards Rabindra Mandap Square from Acharya Vihar would be diverted to the left, near Keshari Talkies while the vehicles coming to PMG Square from AG Square would be diverted near Jaydev Bhavan towards IG Park.

Those coming from 120 Infantry Battalion crossing towards Rabindra Mandap would be diverted towards Unit-IV at MLA Colony crossing.

As far as parking is concerned, people coming from Master Canteen would park their vehicles at BDA bus stand near the railway station and in front of Congress Bhavan.

Those coming from AG Square would use the space in front of IDCOL auditorium and Jaydev Bhavan.

Similarly, people coming towards Rabindra Mandap Square would park their vehicles in front of State Bank of India and Rabindra Mandap.