VRISHANK MAHATME
With the feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa just days away on December 3 traffic and thousands of devotes expected, police and fire safety arrangements have been made at the venue.
“This year the arrangements have been made so that pilgrims and others are not affected as over 4000 to 5000 outstation pilgrims are expected this year. The church has already asked for necessary arrangements with the authorities. In addition to this around 1000 pilgrims will be put up in camps and many other facilities such as mobile toilets and disabled-friendly facilities will also be in place,” said the Rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Fr Savio Barreto.
All security related arrangements have also been made. “A total of 300 forces will be deployed along with three IRB platoons in uniform. Also there will be an Anti Terror Squad and other security agencies and patrolling will be undertaken regularly,” Old Goa PI Krishna Sinari said.
Door frame metal detectors and hand frame metal detectors will be used to screen every person entering the Basilica ground for the masses.
“All traffic arrangements have been arranged for smooth vehicle movement. The people are requested to cooperate with the traffic authorities to make the event successful,” said Traffic PI Dharmesh Angle
Arrangements have been made so that the entire nine-day novena and feast celebrations take place smoothly. In terms of traffic arrangements, all buses proceeding towards Ponda will not be allowed to enter the Ribandar causeway but instead will be allowed to proceed via the Kadamba plateau bypass road.
All vehicles with VIP pass will be allowed to enter Old Goa and park in the VIP parking area. However, vehicles carrying persons with disabilities will be allowed to drive up to the Church premises and park their vehicles near the Old Goa Panchayat.
The entire road from Pilar to Old Goa will be made into one way and no vehicle will be allowed to return on this road. The road from Old Goa circle to Mahatma Gandhi circle will be open only for police, fire and other emergency services and the ring round connecting Old Goa church junction to St Catherine Chapel to Arch of Conception to Petrol Pump to Old Goa Police Station to MLA Pandurang Madkaikar’s house to Old Goa church junction will be one-way from Old Goa Church junction towards Diwar side and there will be no entry from the village Panchayat Old Goa junction towards MLA Madkaikar house.
There will be special buses to ferry passengers from Panjim to Old Goa via Ribandar. These buses, on reaching Dempo Engineering at Old Goa, will take a left turn to enter the Bhakia Property and park there.
Adequate fire and emergency services have also been made to counter any fire emergency. As Herald visited the spot it noticed around five fire extinguishers on the main stage where the altar has been placed, along with safety personnel in place to counter any fire emergency.
“This year one large, two small fire tenders will be present at the venue along with two motorcycle response units. Plus there will be one aerial ladder platform with one water tender for quick fire fighting. Approximately there will be around 50 to 60 fire officers present on the feast day,” said a fire department officer.
