Twin city Bhubaneswar-Cuttack gears up for Durga Puja celebrations: Know the key measures taken

Bhubaneswar, Sept 25: The festive season in Odisha is afoot. The Durga Puja celebrations are nrearing day by day. It’s why the Silver City Cuttack is being decked up to mark the festivity with more excitement. Similarly, Capital City Bhubanewar is also beautifying its nukes and corners to celebrate the ever cherished festivity and welcome the signature of the Goddess Durga on the earth innovatively.

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While sky-touching replica gates are under progress, hundreds of altars have already got their all new makeover and so the semi-finished soil-made idols, about to be prettily coloured.

Meanwhile, the district administration, Puja Committees and the Commissionerate Police, have taken some key measures to make the festivities in and around the Twin Cities more visitor-friendly.

Among other peace-making and eco-friendly approaches, this year, DJ music will not be allowed during the Durga Puja celebrations in Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar and Silver City Cuttack, where more than 100 phenomenal Puja Committees are celebrating Durga Puja for centuries.

The Commissionerate Police in consultation with Puja Committiees and various stakeholders has prohibited the use of vibrato and DJ music during the Puja and even in the immersion processions, informed Commissioner of Police Sanjeeb Panda after a co-ordination and peace-committee meeting was held for the Durga Puja management.

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One of the key challenges discussed during the coordination committee meeting was traffic regulation during the festival.

Musical performances at puja pandals will be restricted to 10 PM, rather than midnight to address noise pollution concerns. The police also urged puja committees to refrain from using high-decibel firecrackers during the ‘Ravana Podi’ ceremony.

In a further bid to maintain law and order, the Excise Department will take measures to prevent the illegal sale of liquor throughout the festive period. 

The government has introduced a single-window clearance system to simplify the licensing process for puja committees to organize events and immersion processions.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allocated ₹3.35 crore for road repairs, drainage improvements, and other essential services in preparation for the festival.