Security measures for Karaga festival and procession today

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: To ensure that no untoward incidents or communal clashes occur, the Bengaluru police have ensured security measures are put in place around all the roads where the Karaga will move.

Around 3000 police personnel will be deployed on ground for security during the Karaga Utsav while 25 drones with CCTV cameras will keep a watch over the event and the surroundings.

The Karaga Mahotsava procession will start around 2 am on Tuesday from Dharmaraya Swamy temple and pass through Cubbon Pete, Avenue Road and via Kote Anjaneya Temple on KR Market Police Station Road, Akkipete, OTC Road and Mastan Saheb Dargah.

From Dargah, it will pass through Balepet Main Road, KG Road, SP Road and reach Annamma Temple.

The procession will trace back the same route towards Mysuru Bank Circle, Avenue Road Cross, RT Road, Kumbarpet, Thigalara Pete to reach Dharmaraya Swamy temple around 6 am on Wednesday.

Traffic advisory In order to ensure smooth flow of the traffic, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have issued a notification prohibiting all vehicles from entering the City Market Circle through Avenue Road up to Mysuru Bank Circle during the procession.

As the festival procession enters Avenue Road, vehicular traffic is prohibited from AS Char street towards City Market Circle.

Vehicles taking a left turn from SJP road towards NR square via PK Lane is prohibited and vehicular traffic will remain blocked from Medical College side towards Market Circle as the festival procession enters the Avenue Road.

The BTP has made several alternative routes for motorists during this time. Vehicles from SJP Road can proceed towards Townhall and take a left turn to proceed towards KG Road.

Vehicles can take a right turn at AS Char street and via Briyand circle can reach Rayan circle. Vehicles coming from Chamarajpet via Professor Shivashankar Circle can enter JC Road and continue towards Town Hall.

Devotees coming to Karaga Utsav can park their vehicles at Bannappa Park, Town Hall and BBMP Market Complex.

Ban on sale of liquor issued for Karaga fest

The Bengaluru City Police (BCP) issued a prohibitory order on the sale of liquor from 4 pm on Tuesday to 10 am on Wednesday within the jurisdictions of Halasuru Gate and Upparpet Police Stations.

In an order to avoid any untoward incidents from people who get drunk, the city top cop B Dayananda has issued an order under section 144 banning the sale of liquor within the limits of KR Market, Kalasipalya, Cottonpet and Upparpet limits.

All the bars, breweries, and pubs, except with CL-4 (clubs) licenses under aforementioned jurisdictions are ordered to be closed.