Team Herald
VASCO: A joint meeting of all government authorities discussed preparedness for the ensuing 125th Lord Damodar Saptah festival starting from August 10.
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The meeting mainly discussed law and order and measures to be taken for better traffic management so as to ease traffic congestion in Vasco town.
The meeting chaired by Mormugao Deputy Collector Bhagwant ‘Pratik’ Karmali was attended by Mormugao DySP Salim Shaikh, Mormugao Municipal Council chairperson Girish Borker and representatives of different government departments.
Borker said that effective traffic management was important to reduce congestion in Vasco during the week-long festival. He said that rent-a-cab and rent-a-bike operators have been requested not to park their vehicles in the town during the festival in order to avoid inconvenience to the people. All departments were briefed about their specific roles during the festival, he said.
DySP Shaikh said that expecting a significant turnout of devotees this year, as Saptah starts on a weekend, police will make elaborate arrangements by deploying around 400 police personnel on duty for any law and order situation. Additionally, 50 traffic police officers will manage the flow of traffic while, CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor activities and prevent any untoward incidents.
Shaikh said that heavy vehicles will be diverted to the new flyover, while, the road behind the Vasco police station and FL Gomes road will be kept open for traffic.
Damodar Bhajani Saptah general secretary Santosh Khorjuvekar said that the joint meeting was crucial for coordinating the festival arrangements, with a special focus on law and order, traffic management, parking, fire safety measures, water supply arrangements and sanitation facilities for stalls at different locations. He appealed to the people especially devotees to cooperate with the organisers for the smooth conduct of the Saptah festival.
