Bhubaneswar: With Durga Puja 2025 preparations underway, the Commissionerate Police has declared that public safety and security will remain the foremost priority during the upcoming celebrations in Bhubaneswar. Detailed measures were outlined at a preparatory meeting chaired by Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh at Police Seva Bhawan on Monday.
The meeting, attended by MLAs Babu Singh (Ekamra) and Nabakishor Mallick (Jayadev), senior police officers, district officials, and representatives of nearly 190 Puja Committees, emphasized strict adherence to safety, traffic, and cultural discipline during the festivities.
Key measures include adequate police deployment, smooth crowd management around Puja pandals, and strict enforcement of fire safety norms. All Puja Committees have been instructed to install firefighting equipment, maintain proper entry and exit points, and train volunteers in emergency response. Mandatory CCTV cameras, bans on DJs and laser lights, and restrictions on “Ravan Podi” to designated safe areas were also announced.
Special focus will be placed on women and child safety, with dedicated “HER Teams” to be deployed across major pandals. The ongoing anti-drug campaign, Operation PRAHAR, will intensify during the festival, while Puja Committees have been urged to promote the theme “Say No to Drugs”.
Additional arrangements will be ensured by civic and utility departments: the BMC will repair damaged roads, provide water supply, and install bio-toilets at key points, while TPCODL will guarantee uninterrupted power supply and remove unsafe hanging wires along procession routes.
Representatives from major Puja Committees across Bhubaneswar — including Jharpada, Rasulgarh, Palasuni, Nayapalli, Capital No. 1, Sailashree Vihar, Dumduma, and others — participated in the meeting and assured their cooperation.
The Commissionerate Police reiterated its commitment to extending full support to organizers and appealed to the public to celebrate responsibly, ensuring Durga Puja 2025 remains safe, peaceful, and joyous.
