JOIN USEntry of pvt vehicles to Shravanabelagola restricted
Entry of vehicles has been restricted to Shravanabelagola town as lakhs of devotees are expected to attend the Mahamastakabhisheka from February 6 to 26. KSRTC buses will ferry the devotees from the parking lot.
Parking arrangements have been made for private vehicles on the outskirts of the town. Ten places have been identified for parking - near Prakrit Hospital, Nagamangala Road, Melkote Road, Kothanaghatta Road, Kantirayapura Road, Kikkeri Road, Kantharajapura Road, Channarayapatna Road, west side of Vindhyagiri and Muttanavile Road.
While 106 acres of land have been identified for parking of private vehicles, temporary bus stand for KSRTC buses has been set up on a 19-acre plot. Only government vehicles and those of dignitaries will be allowed into the town. Three helipads have been set up near the town.
Local vehicles would be identified and passes would be issued for entering the town. KSRTC will ply 75 mini buses to ferry the devotees from the parking lot. More than 5,000 police personnel will be on duty. A KSRP platoon, bomb disposal squad, dog squad, anti-terrorist squad, Garuda vehicles and Home Guards will be deputed in and around the town.
Speaking to DH, Superintendent of Police Rahul Kumar said police personnel would be deputed at important places to maintain law and order. The parking areas can accommodate 16,500 cars at a time. He said the public should not carry more luggage as they will not be allowed to carry them atop the hill. As the number of devotees will me more during weekends, the people can visit the place on week days to prevent the rush, he said.
The SP explained that the information on the Mahamastakabhisheka will be uploaded on social media - facebook and twitter. Arrangements have been made to provide information in Kannada, English and Hindi, he said.
Hundreds of videographers with handicams are being used to prevent crime. Around 150 CCTV cameras have been installed near the scaffolding, roads connecting Shravanabelagola and at vantage points of the town, he said.