Security, festival arrangements reviewed at KVD

Varanasi: Ahead of the upcoming Shravan month and other festivals, a comprehensive on-site inspection of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham was conducted on Thursday. Additional Director IB Vinita Sharma, Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Aggarwal, and Additional Director General of Police (Security) Tarun Gaba took a thorough stock of the arrangements related to security, traffic, crowd management, and public amenities.

During the inspection, a detailed review was conducted of the deployment of Police, PAC, CRPF, and other paramilitary forces in the Dham area, continuous surveillance through CCTV and PTZ cameras, the operational efficiency of drone and anti-drone systems, the technical robustness of the control room, and rooftop duty arrangements at sensitive locations. Instructions were issued to make barricading, the phased crowd management system, holding areas, video wall, and public announcement system more effective for the safe and smooth darshan-pujan of devotees.

Additionally, directions were given to operate an alternative route near main gate no. 4 for the orderly return of shopkeepers and customers from Udapi and surrounding areas and devotees visiting via Ganga Dwar, to increase the height of the peripheral walls of the temple complex, install modern sliding gates at Bhairav Gate, and additional AI-enabled CCTV cameras in the lanes of the Dham area.

Following the inspection, a review meeting was held with Divisional Commissioner S Rajalingam, ADG Zone Piyush Mordia, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar, and other senior officers, in which necessary directives were issued to ensure uninterrupted, safe, and orderly darshan arrangements during the upcoming festivals.