Sambalpur, June11: The district police here have chalked out a plan to regulate the movement of traffic in the city during the Sital Sasthi festival.

The rituals of the festival, which began on June 9, will continue till June 15. The main festival will be held between June 13 and June 15 when thousands of devotees will gather to witness the wedding ceremony of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati.

Movement of buses, trucks, and other heavy vehicles — mini trucks and tractors — will be restricted from the evening of June 13 to the June 15 night. Night buses will not be allowed to enter the city during the festival.

The buses will instead take the Ainthapali Chhak-Jailkhana Chhak route through Sindurpankh Chhak.

Four wheelers and autorickshaws, which enter the city from Ainthapali Chhak, will be allowed up to the Fatak Flyover.

Similarly, four-wheelers and autorickshaws that come from Dhanupali Chhak can come up to Jailkhana Chhak. Four-wheelers and autorickshaws, which come from Khetrajpur, can travel up to Cheruapara.

However, vehicles will be allowed to pass through Ring Road.

Restrictions have been imposed on the movement of cycle rickshaws as well. Rickshaws will not be allowed to go towards Golebazaar area from Laxmi Talkies Chhak, Gaiety Talkies Road, Peerbaba Chhak and Pension Para Chhak during this period.

Police will also not allow bicycles, rickshaws and motorcycles on Bad Sadak, San Sadak, Golebazaar Chhak to Peer Baba Chhak, Gaiety Talkies Road, Laxmi Talkies to Golebazar Chhak and Modipara Road during the festival procession.

Similarly, parking of rickshaws and other vehicles will not be allowed at Bad Sadak, San Sadak, Gaiety Road, Laxmi Talkies to Golebazaar Road, Municipality Chhak, Gaiety Talkies Chhak to Lastalia Chhak during the procession.

“Leaflets have been distributed to create awareness about the traffic plan during the festival. However, co-operation of people is essential for proper regulation of traffic during the festival,” said traffic in charge of Sambalpur B.B. Naik.

“Every year during the Sital Sasthi festival, laksh of devotees from across the state and neighbouring states congregate here to watch the divine wedding. Adequate number of traffic police should be deployed to regulate traffic during the festival,” said local resident Santosh Jha.