With Durga Puja just weeks away, the Bhubaneswar-Kataka Commissionerate Police on Thursday convened a high-level coordination meeting to lock in security, traffic and immersion arrangements for what is expected to be one of the city’s largest festive gatherings of the year.
The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Commissioner of Police Dr. S. Dev Datta Singh, IPS, brought together Additional CP Narasingha Bhol, IPS, local MLAs, a representative of the Bhubaneswar MP, leaders of Bhasani (immersion) committees, and presidents and secretaries of numerous puja committees. Officials from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, TPCODL and other line departments also took part.
The festival will run from 16 October to 21 October 2026, covering Maha Sasthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Astami, Maha Navami, Dasahara/Ravan Podi and Bhasani.
Police have identified 193 medhas (tableaux) for special attention: 49 in Category A, 71 in Category B, and 73 in Category C. In addition, 24 Chandi medhas, seven Meena Bazar locations, eight Ravan Podi sites and multiple mass Bhasani processions will receive focused security and traffic management.
What police will put on the ground
Arrangements already announced include:
- Joint inspections with civic and utility departments well in advance
- Round-the-clock control rooms at seven major medhas
- Dedicated security for Chandi medhas
- Crowd-control teams at pandals from 3 p.m. to midnight (or until normalcy returns), with regulated entry and exit
- Plain-clothes safety teams for women
- CAPF, Special Task Unit and striking-force units at strategic points
- ODRAF teams at immersion ghats
- Mobile patrolling in sensitive pockets
- Special measures at Meena Bazar sites
An extra seven platoons will be added on 20 and 21 October for Ravan Podi and Bhasani processions.
Projected deployment includes about 300 officers in the ranks of DCP/Commandant/SP down to Inspector/SI/ASI, 40 platoons of force, one company of CAPF, and roughly 40 more platoons drawn from OR, OAPF, APR, Home Guards and women constables.
Eight Ravan Podi venues named
The eight identified locations are:
- SAKS Playground, Kapilaprasad (Airfield PS)
- Mini Stadium, Naharkanta (Pahal PS)
- Open field near Kuakhai river bank, Bankual/Nadibandha (Badagada PS)
- Open field near Kuakhai river bank, Koradakanta (Badagada PS)
- Open field behind Infocity Police Station (Infocity PS)
- Biju Patnaik Playground premises, Baramunda (Khandagiri PS)
- Gopalpur Playground near Gopal village (Infovalley PS)
- Open field at Gandarpur (Nandankanan PS)
Commissionerate Police stressed that close coordination among puja committees, police, BMC and other agencies is essential for a peaceful festival.
Officials appealed to organisers and the public to follow safety, traffic and crowd-management guidelines so that devotees can celebrate without incident.
