Security officials have appealed to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) to keep the parking areas selected for the day of Maha Shivaratri vacant to manage the traffic system.
The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has managed Tilganga area, Sifal ground, Police Circle of Gausala and other areas for parking for the day. However, the devotees could not use the areas for parking their vehicles when others activities are allowed there.
Speaking at a meeting of the Security Management held at Bankali of Pashupati area on Friday, Ghanashyam Upadhyay, Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, said that the responsibilities of security forces and their work divisions would be determined by holding further discussions with security forces.
Sharing the weaknesses seen in traffic management in the previous festivals, Dal Bahadur Karki, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Traffic Police Office, requested the Pashupati Area Development Committee (PADT) not to allow other activities in the selected parking areas on the day.
“Lack of sufficient parking areas could create difficulty in managing the devotees’ vehicles,” he said.
Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Dan Bahadur Karki requested the PADT to use modern technology rather than mobilising a huge number of security personnel in every big festival in the Pashupati area.
SSP Karki asked the PADT to set up close circuit (CC) cameras at the west gate, Umakunda area, several parking areas and the Ram Temple area to manage sound security system in the crowded areas.
Pointing at the poor condition of the two old bridges over the Bagmati River, SSP Karki asked to manage temporary bridges for the day of Shivaratri.
Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, member-secretary of PADT, said that a 201-member Maha Shivaratri Festival Management Main Committee was formed under the leadership of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati for the Maha Shivaratri Festival.
Eight other sub-committee have been formed to make various arrangements including managing the queue of the devotees.
The Pashupati area will be decorated specially with flowers and lights during the festival, he said.
Only Nepali Army personnel will be deployed in the core areas of Pashupatinath Temple on February 18, the day of the Maha Shivaratri festival.
Around 500 Nepali Army personnel will be deploy on the day while security personnel from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and volunteers will also be deployed, said the PADT.
Source : TRN,
