Cuttack is under a heavy security cover for Durga Puja and Bhasani celebrations this year. The Commissionerate Police has deployed 122 platoons of police and 600 officers across the city, Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh announced on Sunday.
Two companies of the CRPF will be stationed at key points, and anti-terrorist squads will be part of the preventive measures. A total of 39 additional police posts are being set up to monitor sensitive locations. Patrolling and mobile units will remain on standby.
Tech-Driven Surveillance
Police have installed CCTV cameras and are using drone surveillance to monitor puja mandaps, crowd zones, and immersion routes. Real-time monitoring will allow for faster deployment in emergencies.
Safety of Women and Children
Special deployment will focus on the safety of women and children. Plainclothes personnel will be placed at strategic points to address complaints and intervene quickly if needed.
Traffic and Parking Plan
Thirty-five designated parking areas have been identified, with diversions and road closures planned during immersion. Bhasani-specific traffic restrictions will be in place from 7 AM on October 3 until the conclusion of the procession on October 4 to ensure safe and smooth movement.
BMC to Mentor Five Odisha Cities on Sanitation
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been chosen as a mentor civic body under the Swachh Shehar Jodi programme to guide five urban local bodies (ULBs) in Odisha — Kendrapada, Deogarh, Bargarh, Pattamundai, and Joda.
This 100-day, outcome-oriented initiative aims to replicate best practices in waste management, improve sanitation systems, and strengthen waste processing infrastructure in the mentee cities.
BMC said in a post on X that the programme will also enhance citizen participation and improve Swachh Bharat survey ratings for both mentor and mentee cities.
Waste-to-Energy Projects
In a parallel effort, the Odisha government is setting up waste-to-energy and biogas plants at Palasuni to process 1,000–2,000 tonnes of waste daily from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Jatni, and nearby municipalities.
The project is expected to generate up to 25 MW of energy, converting processed waste into charcoal and then energy — a significant step toward sustainable waste management
