Aerial monitoring of Puja traffic
● A senior Delhi traffic police official said that they have hired a twin- engine helicopter from Pawan Hans Helicopters
For the first time, a chopper hovered overhead to monitor immersion of hundreds of idols even as traffic snarled in major roads leading to Yamuna ghats across the national capital as curtains came down on Durga Puja festivities on Friday.
A senior traffic police official said that they have hired a twin- engine helicopter from Pawan Hans Helicopters.
“It has already been put to use partly to effectively monitor and regulate traffic situation during immersion of Durga Puja idols,” said the senior official, adding, “Traffic officers are keeping watch and guiding traffic cops in the field through wireless.”
“All the ghats and roads leading to the immersions as well as general area which is being affected are being surveyed. Aerial videography is also being done as first such sortie is in air at the moment.”
Immersion of Durga Puja idols started on Thursday with majority of idols taken in processions at various ghats for immersion in Yamuna.
“All the ghats and roads leading to the immersions as well as general area which is being affected was surveyed. Aerial videography was also done as it was the first such sortie,” said a senior police officer.
Vehicular movement remained heavy on almost all roads leading to the various Yamuna ghats as hundreds of trucks and other vehicles bearing the idols headed to the Yamuna.
Major roads and areas, such as Mandir marg, Panchkuian Road, Kashmere Gate, Chandgi Ram Akhara, Minto Road, Rajghat, Outer Ring Road, and Wazirabad bridge were points of heavy con- gestion and traffic jams, the police said.
Around 12,000 people thronged the ghats, nine of which were dedicated, where close to 250 idols were taken for immersion under the watchful eyes of CCTV cameras. Civil defence volunteers were also deployed.
After immersion, the idols and puja material were removed from the river and kept aside for disposal by personnel from the MCDs to ensure minimum pollution of the river.
“The three MCDs together made arrangements of sanitation by erecting public utilities at all the ghats. Mobile dispensaries were also put up,” a senior MCD official said.