An elaborate security arrangements have been made for procession of Vinayaka idols before their immersion in the Cauvery here on Saturday.
Over 1,000 city police personnel and those from Home Guards would be deployed. Pickets would be posted at different places in the city. Twelve Assistant Commissioners of Police, 35 Inspectors of Police and 200 Sub Inspectors form part of the manpower strength to be engaged for duty. Around 11 Striking Force teams and anti-sabotage teams would be deployed at chosen locations.
All the 227 idols installed in the city would be immersed. A maximum of 97 idols have been installed in the limits of Fort Range encompassing Fort, Gandhi Market and Palakkarai police stations.
The police have specified designated routes through which idols installed across the city limits would have be to brought in a procession for immersion. The police would accompany every idol during the procession and they would be deployed at the immersion point also.
Traffic diversions would come into effect from 2 p.m. and would be in force up to 6 a.m. on September 16. All mofussil buses bound for Chathram Bus Stand here and coming from Thuraiyur, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Cuddalore routes would come via Chennai Bypass road, Old Palpannai roundtana, TVS Tollgate, Head Post Office, Anna Nagar new bridge, Sastri Road and Karur Bypass Road to reach Chathram Bus Stand. The buses would proceed via the same route in the return direction.
Town buses coming to Lalgudi, Samayapuram, Mannachanallur and Vathalai would come via Checkpost 6, Tiruvanaikoil Trunk Road, Tiruvanaikoil Junction, JAC corner and reach Srirangam old bus stand. In the return direction, they would go via Gandhi Road, Tiruvanaikoil Junction, Tiruvanaikoil Trunk Road and Checkpost 6 to proceed to New Coleroon bridge.
City buses from Chathram Bus Stand to Srirangam would go via Main Guard Gate, West Bouleward Road, Vellamandi, Nelpettai, Palpannai roundtana, Chennai Bypass Road, Y Road junction, Checkpost 6, Trunk Road, Tiruvanaikoil Junction and Gandhi Road to reach Srirangam Old Bus Stand.
In the return direction, these buses would go via Gandhi Road, Tiruvanaikoil Trunk Road, Y Road junction, Chennai Bypass Road, TVS Tollgate, Head Post Office, Anna Nagar new bridge, Sastri Road, Maris overbridge and College Road to reach Chathram Bus Stand.
City buses bound for Chathram Bus Stand from Tiruverambur and Thuvakudi would go via Palpannai roundtana, TVS Tollgate, Head Post Office, Anna Nagar new bridge, Sastri Road, Maris overbridge, College Road to reach Chathram Bus Stand.
Goods carriers proceeding to Pudukottai and Thanjavur from Coimbatore and Karur routes would be diverted at Kulithalai Cauvery bridge and proceed via Musiri, Kollidam Tollgate, Chennai Bypass Road and Palpannai roundtana. Those proceeding to Pudukottai would go via TVS Tollgate.
Goods carriers from Thanjavur and Pudukottai routes proceeding to Karur would go via Palpannai roundtana, Chennai Bypass Road, Kollidam Tollgate, Musiri and Kulithalai to reach Karur, says a press release.
Minor diversions would be made on the advice of police officers in case there were traffic hold ups in the routes where the idols are to be taken out in a procession.