Kolkata to be wrapped under blanket of heavy security on Christmas Eve

The city police have chalked out an elaborate security arrangement in the city to avoid any untoward incident during Christmas.

More importantly, no vehicles will be allowed to ply on Park Street from 4 pm to 11 pm on December 25 when thousands of people will pour into the place that has been decorated with lights.

Park Street had been getting decorated in similar fashion for the past few years. The initiative was taken by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and soon, the road will remain decorated with lights round the year.

Additional 2,500 policemen will be deployed in different parts of the city. The policemen will be deployed from Saturday evening onward as people will start visiting churches in the city from around 10 pm on Monday.

There will also be deployment of police at places including Metro stations, mall, zoo and other places of interest. There will be additional policemen on Park Street as well.

The decision has been taken to post pickets at 200 different points to keep a check on reckless driving and to ensure that no one manages to leave the city after committing a crime.

There will also be assistance booths at different locations to help people by providing information.

Watch towers will be installed at 11 different locations to keep a watch on the movements of people.

In case the officers posted on the watch towers find anyone creating disturbances, they would contact the concerned officers on duty in the particular area and will ask to take necessary action.

The Quick Response Team of the Kolkata Police will be ready to combat a situation if it turns worse. They will rush to the spot in case the situation deteriorates.

The disaster management group has also been asked to be ready and there will also be trauma care ambulance kept ready at the spot for any emergency situation. Ten deputy commissioners of police will be on duty at Park Street on December 25.

At the same time there will also be patrolling on river Hooghly so that no one can create any trouble after entering the city through river route.

A senior police officer said that since thousands of people visit the area on the day every year, Park Street will be kept closed for seven hours from 4 pm.

The vehicles will be diverted through alternate thoroughfares.

Besides visiting the place that is well known for the best restaurants and eateries, people would also come to watch the decoration that is being done using miniature lights.

People will also be visiting to watch cultural programmes at Allen Park. The programme was inaugurated by the Chief Minister.