The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tight security for Brahmotsavam at Tirumala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tight security for Brahmotsavam at Tirumala

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA, SEPT. 13. Unprecedented security arrangements are being made for the nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara scheduled to begin here from September 16.

As many as 2,800 police personnel including 400 armed police, 18 armed reserved sections and one company of APSP personnel are being pressed for bandobust duty both at Tirumala and Tirupati for event.

Talking to media persons, the Rayalaseema zone, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), R. P. Meena, on Monday said the entire area in and around the temple town, including the Tirumala forests, both the ghat roads and footpath would be completely sterilised.

Combing operations

Round-the-clock surveillance, both at Tirumala and Tirupati, would be maintained to check the movement of suspected religious fundamentalist groups and anti-social elements, apart from undertaking massive combing operations in the forest areas and on all the roads leading to the temple town.

Quick reaction teams, anti-sabotage units, special parties and crime control teams in mufti would be formed to meet any kind of eventuality. Additional number of closed circuit TV cameras would be installed inside the temple complex and the mada streets encircling the shrine. All the cameras would be connected to a control room, which would be monitored by a senior police officer of the rank of Additional SP. Additional police personnel would be deployed inside the temple complex to assist the TTD in regulating queue lines, besides containing petty offences like chain snatching and pick-pocketing.

The police personnel equipped with sophisticated weapons would be posted at the `Parakamani' -- (the process of counting hundi offerings) on all the days during the festival period. The police personnel would also trained for the smooth conduct of the procession of Lord on various vahanams -- which would be carried out twice a day on all the days during the festival period. A daily review would be undertaken to ensure better coordination between officials of various departments.

Giant screens

Giant-sized digital screens would be put up at vantage points all along the mada streets for better view of the procession of daily vahanams. The police personnel engaged in pilgrim duty would not be pressed for bandobust duty of the VVIP's visiting the temple town during the festival period.

Six parking lots

Six major parking lots have been identified and a private agency would be endorsed with the responsibility of maintaining them. Four cranes would be pressed into service on both the ghat roads to meet any situation arising out of unforeseen incidents.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh