Sambalpur, May 21: The district police have made adequate arrangements for the Sital Sasthi festival, which marks the marriage ceremony of lord Siva and Parvati.

Though the rituals have already begun from May 18, the main festival is on Friday. "Twenty five platoons of police will be deployed across the city for smooth conduct of the celebrations. Besides, 13 deputy superintendents of police, 29 inspectors, 146 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, 173 constables and 310 home guards will be on duty," said sub-divisional police officer Utkala Keshari Das.

Considering the huge turn out during the festival, the police have also decided to restrict movement of vehicles in the city.

The movement of bus, trucks, mini-trucks and tractors will be restricted from the evening of May 22 to May 24. The buses, which enter the city at night, will not be allowed to do so during the festival. The buses will go from Ainthapali Chhak to Jailkhana Chhak through the Sindurpankh Chhak and Dhanupali Chhak.

The four-wheelers and auto rickshaw, which enter the city from the Ainthapali Chhak, will be allowed to come up to Fatak flyover. Similarly, the four-wheelers and autorickshaws, which come from Dhanupali Chhak, can drive up to Jailkhana Chhak. And the four-wheelers and the autorickshaws, which will come from the Khetrajpur, can drive up to Cheruapara. However, the vehicles will be allowed to go through ring road.

Similarly, restrictions have also been imposed on the movement of rickshaws. The three-wheelers will not be allowed to go towards Golebazar area from Laxmi Talkies Chhak, Gaiety Talkies Road, Peerbaba Chhak and Pension Para Chhak.

Movement of bicycles, rickshaw and motorcycles has been restricted on Bad Sadak, San Sadak, Golebazar Chhak to Peer Baba Chhak, Gaiety Talkies Road, Laxmi Talkies to Golebazar Chhak and Modipara Road during the procession of the festival.

Parking of rickshaws and other vehicles will not be allowed on Bad Sadak, San Sadak, Gaiety Road, Laxmi Talkies to Golebazar Road, Municipality Chhak, Gaiety Talkies Chhak to Lastalia Chhak during the procession. The restrictions in traffic movement have been widely publicised through posters and handbills and the police have sought co-operation from the public in this regard.