The district administration has made elaborate arrangement in the state capital to maintain peace during Durga Puja which starts from Saptami on Tuesday when the pandals would be opened for the devotees.

Altogether 1,300 magistrates will be deployed and a similar number of police personnel would be deployed in the city. Patna district magistrate Kumar Ravi on Saturday also set the deadline for the immersion of the idols by October 20.

A close watch will be kept on rash driving and eve teasers as well in which the closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) that have been installed on all major roads would play a pivotal role.

“We have issued a joint order of police and magistrate and the entire district is divided into six zones as per the six sub-divisions. However, in urban Patna, the city would be divided in separate zones separately. For three days starting from Saptami, 1,300 magistrates would be deployed out of which 400 in urban areas and a similar number of police jawans would be deployed for the safety for the people coming out on the road to enjoy the festival. Even the Rapid Action Force (RAF) would be on their toes,” Ravi told The Telegraph.

Ravi stressed that that district administration has made arrangements and people can enjoy the festival without any fear as the administration is always there to help and save them.

An artist works on idols ahead of Dussehra at Gandhi Maidan. Picture by Manoj Kumar

Ravi said action has been taken against a dozen criminals under the Crime Control Act (CCA). Such criminals have been externed from the limit of their respective police stations as precautionary measures.

“A special drive would be carried out against rash driving during the festival because devotees throng different pandals to seek the blessings of the Goddess and that time we do not want them to land in trouble because they drive dangerously. So I have asked the police to keep a close eye on such people and detain them. Tabs would be kept on eve teasers as well and police would be deputed in civil dress to nab such people,” Ravi said.

The maximum crowd gathers during the Ravan Vadh programme in Gandhi Maidan in which more than 2 lakh people visit the ground to watch the fireworks. Barricading the ground has already started. The Patna DM has already visited the ground to check the preparation.

The traffic police has also prepared the plan for the three days and a special focus would be on Dakbungalow due to movement of the chief minister and the governor.

The Patna DM pointed out the deadline of the idol immersion, “I have issued the order that immersion of idol must start from the day of Ravan Vadh and should end by the next day. The puja committees have been asked to cooperate with the police and the administration during the immersion and do it without creating problems for others.”

The ghats which have been identified for the idol immersion in terms of receiving the maximum crowd includes Bhadra Ghat, Gai Ghat, Digha Ghat, Patipul Ghat, Buddh Ghat and Collectorate Ghat.