Red Rd gets Carnival-ready amid heightened security
Kolkata: Kolkata Police has made elaborate traffic and security arrangements for the Red Road Immersion Carnival on Friday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will flag off the event at 4:30 pm in the afternoon.
According to sources, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has been invited for the mega show. At least 500 people from foreign consulates will be present. Also, the state Tourism department has taken the initiative to bring in 150 foreign delegates to witness the grand Carnival. Among the delegates, eminent artists and journalists will be present.
To ensure the security of the delegates, VVIPs and other spectators, the area has been turned into a fortress. Sources informed that approximately 3,000 police personnel will be deployed on Friday for the Carnival. Though a section of the cops will be deployed from Thursday night on Red Road, the whole area will be scrutinised thoroughly after imposing vehicular movement restrictions. Sniffer dogs have been put on duty as well. The bomb squad of the Kolkata Police will also be engaged.
According to senior police officials, 17 giant screens have been set up so that people can see the Carnival clearly despite occupying the back rows. There will be police teams comprising Rapid Action Force (RAF), Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and other specialised units deployed at Red Road and its surrounding areas. Divisional reserve forces have been instructed to keep strict vigil. To assist people coming to witness the grand show, six police assistance booths have been set up. Apart from the security aspect, there will be seven ambulances and four medical teams in and around Red Road for any medical emergency.
Along with the specialised forces, police personnel from the Special Branch will also be deployed. Police personnel in plainclothes will also be present. Special security arrangements have been made for the foreign diplomats and delegates who will be present at the event. Eight watchtowers have been erected at vantage points which will help the police personnel equipped with advanced sniper rifles to monitor the Carnival site. Adequate number of CCTV cameras have been installed as well for proper surveillance. Sources have informed that drones will also be used during the programme to avoid any untoward incident. Vehicular movement on Red Road will be restricted from 2 pm on Friday. But police may stop vehicular traffic from Thursday night till 9 am on Friday for necessary infrastructural measures. As per the traffic arrangements, Lovers Lane, Queensway, Plassey Gate Road and Esplanade Ramp will be closed from 2 pm. Also, the Westbound Road stretch on Mayo Road from Jawahar Lal Nehru Road will be closed for vehicular movement except immersion vehicles. Normal vehicular movement will be allowed through Jawaharlal Nehru Road. Apart from vehicular traffic, parking of cars along 11 roads have been restricted from 2 pm till the programme gets over.
