Bhubaneswar, March 6: Police have made elaborate security arrangements for Shivratri to be observed at Lingaraj Temple here tomorrow.

According to reports, around 18 platoons of police would be deployed around the temple to control the devotees, who throng the shrine. Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said the cops would try to ensure that no incidents of pickpocket, snatching or eve-teasing took place during the event.

"Our primary job would be crowd and traffic management. We will deploy female cops in plain clothes to prevent eve-teasing incidents," said Bhoi.

Authorities said 14 CCTV cameras installed in and around the temple would keep tabs on the crowd movement. They have also set up two control rooms one inside the temple administration office, which will be monitored by the cops from Lingaraj police station.

The police have also earmarked several spaces in and around the area for parking. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will deploy its workers to provide drinking water to the devotees, besides undertaking sanitation work around the temple.

The temple administration has also completed preparations for the mega event, which is expected to attract thousands of devotees. They have erected barricades on the temple premises to streamline their entry.

A temple administration official said the rituals at the temple would start at 3am on Shivratri with mangal arati and abakasa niti. The mahadeep, marking the end of the puja, will be placed atop the temple crown at 10pm.

"This is one of the temple's major festivals, and I have been visiting the shrine for the past decade on the occasion. The administration and the police should ensure the devotees do not have to wait in long queues. Besides, the temple authorities must also ensure timely rituals, so that the mahadeep would be placed at the right time," said Arabind Mohapatra, a devotee.

Most often, devotees complain of delay in ritual timings, leading to delay in placing of mahadeep. However, the temple administration has decided to keep tabs on the movement of servitors while heads of sevayat nijogs would be present inside the temple to monitor timely conduct of the rituals.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said sanitation workers would be present throughout the day to keep the temple premises clean.

"We will provide drinking water to the devotees. The civic body would provide all possible help for smooth conduct of the festival," said Jena.