NABAKALEBARA
POST NEWS NETWORK
Bhubaneswar, June 10: With a view to ensuring safety and security during the Nabakalebara festival of the Trinity in July, the state government has urged the Centre to effect a brief ban on flying of choppers and other aircraft over Grand Road (Bada Danda), the main approach road to the Jagannath temple in Puri.
“..Steps may be taken not to allow choppers or aircraft to fly over Badadanda (Grand Road) during the festival July 18, July 26 and July 27 due to safety reasons,” joint secretary to the state government’s general administration department CR Patra pleaded in a letter he wrote to the director of the bureau of civil aviation security, New Delhi.
Patra also sent copies of the letter to the director of Biju Patnaik airport and director of air traffic control, Bhubaneswar. He urged the authorities to consider the issue as of ‘extremely urgent’ nature. GA officials said the additional director general of Orissa Police, which is in charge of law and order, has recommended suspension of flights of choppers and aircraft over Grand Road, Puri.
The state government has urged the authorities to disallow flights on these three days as it expects a huge congregation of devotees on these three days of the mega festival. While Rath Yathra (Car festival) falls July 18, Bahuda Yatra – the Lords’ return car festival — will be on July 26 and the Suna Besha of the deities — in which the trinity would be adorned in golden attire — will take place the next day, July 27.
The state government is expecting turnout of over 50lakh devotees during the Nabakalebara festival. It expects a footfall of over 25lakh on these three days.
Massive arrangements are in place for the festival of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. The event is being held after a gap of 19 years, in which the wooden bodies (Daru) of the trinity will be changed. Several rounds of security reviews are being conducted to ensure safety and security ahead of the festival.
Earlier, demands had intensified to declare Jagannath Temple, Puri, as a permanent ‘No Fly Zone’ and imposition of temporary restrictions on flying over the ‘the Grand Road’ during the Rath Yatra festival. The issue landed in high court after the director general of civil aviation (DGCA) rejected the plea. Acting on a PIL, the high court then served notice on DGCA, asking it to furnish details as to why the stretch could not be declared a ‘No fly Zone.’ Currently, Taj Mahal in Agra, the Khajuraho temple and the Tirumala temple are No Fly Zones.