A key preparatory meeting for Durga Puja 2025 was held today at the Conference Hall, Police Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, setting the stage for the festival scheduled on October 2, 2025.
Chaired by Dr. S. Dev Datta Singh, IPS, Commissioner of Police, the meeting saw participation from Hon’ble MLAs Sri Babu Singh and Sri Nabakishor Mallick, alongside senior officials, including Narasingha Bhol, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police, and Jagmohan Meena, IPS, DCP.
Representatives from BMC, TPCODL, Fire Services, Excise Department, and various Puja committees, including Jharpada, Rasulgarh, and Mahila Puja Committee, attended. With nearly 190 Puja mandaps planned, the focus was on ensuring a grand and secure celebration.
The Commissionerate Police outlined 21 critical measures, prioritising public safety, crowd management, and adequate police deployment. Key initiatives include fire safety enforcement, traffic regulation with trained volunteers, and specific protections for women and children. The “Operation PRAHAR” anti-drug drive and “HER” teams for women’s safety were highlighted, alongside bans on DJs and laser lights, and mandatory CCTV installations.
BMC will repair roads and install bio-toilets, while TPCODL ensures uninterrupted power and removes overhanging wires. Fire extinguishers are mandatory at pandals, with trained volunteers, and “Ravan Podi” permissions will be space-specific. The theme “Say No to Drugs” was endorsed, with restrictions on vulgarity and sound levels during immersions.
The police assured full support to Puja committees for a safe, peaceful, and joyous Durga Puja 2025.
[Important Measures to be Implemented During Durga Puja 2025 in bhubaneswar]
1. **Public Safety and Security**: This will remain the foremost priority.
2. **Crowd Management**: Ensure smooth arrangements for crowd management in and around Puja pandals.
3. **Police Deployment**: Adequate police presence at all major locations.
4. **Fire Safety Measures**: All Puja committees must ensure proper entry and exit points and install firefighting arrangements according to fire safety guidelines.
5. **Traffic Regulation**: Utilise trained volunteers for managing both crowds and vehicle traffic.
6. **Safety of Women and Children**: Implement specific monitoring and preventive measures.
7. **Anti-Drug Drive**: Continue Operation “PRAHAR” vigorously during the festive period.
8. **Deployment of “HER” Teams**: Place these teams at crucial areas and Puja pandals to enhance security and provide prompt responses to women’s safety issues.
9. **Action Against Offenders**: Stringent measures against habitual offenders and anti-social elements.
10. **Ban on DJs**: Prohibit DJs at Puja venues.
11. **CCTV Installation**: Mandatory installation of CCTV cameras for surveillance by all Puja committees.
12. **Ban on Laser Lights**: Prohibit the use of laser lights to avoid hazards.
13. **Volunteer Coordination**: Puja committees should provide volunteers for effective coordination with the police and for crowd and traffic regulation.
14. **Municipal Corporation Responsibilities**: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will repair damaged roads, ensure water supply to all pandals, and install bio-toilets at important junctions.
15. **Power Supply Assurance**: TPCODL must ensure an uninterrupted power supply and remove overhanging electric wires along procession routes.
16. **”Ravan Podi” Permissions**: Permission will only be granted where there is sufficient space available, following Fire Department guidelines, to ensure spectator safety.
17. **Installation of Fire Extinguishers**: Mandatory installation of fire extinguishers at all Puja pandals, with volunteers trained in their use.
18. **No Roadside ‘Toranas’**: There will be no construction of ‘Toranas’ on roadsides to ensure free movement for fire vehicles in case of emergencies.
19. **Awareness Against Drugs**: All pandals should adopt the theme “Say No to Drugs” to educate the public about drug abuse, as suggested by Addl. CP Narasingha Bhol, IPS.
20. **Cultural Program Guidelines**: Ensure no vulgarity in melodies during cultural programs.
21. **Immersion Guidelines**: Sound levels of speakers during immersion processions should not exceed 65 decibels.
