As the festive spirit of Durga Puja begins to sweep across Siliguri, the city’s streets are already glowing with lights, pandals and anticipation. With nearly 700 pujas lined up this year, Siliguri police have stepped in with a detailed plan to ensure that devotees, tourists and pandal-hoppers can enjoy the festivities safely and smoothly.
On Tuesday, police commissioner C. Sudhakar unveiled the official Puja Guide Map and announced a set of rules and restrictions to manage crowds, traffic and safety during the celebrations. He said 652 of the city’s Puja committees have received state grants this year, underlining the scale of the preparations.
In a move to keep citizens informed, the Siliguri Metropolitan Police has launched an official Facebook page for traffic systems and management, along with new Instagram and X handles to provide live updates on traffic conditions, diversions and safety measures.
Around 2,000 police personnel will be deployed across the city, particularly at night, to manage crowds. Special anti-sabotage and crime-checking teams will inspect major pandals daily. “We’ve issued clear guidelines to all puja committees, especially those with big-budget pandals, and expect strict compliance,” Sudhakar said.
For the first time, 5,000 “Puja Bandhu” volunteers—trained by police and drawn from local puja committees—will help manage visitors in an organised manner. “This is the first year we’ve trained 10 volunteers from each committee, and we’ll maintain close coordination with them throughout the festival,” the commissioner added.
Meetings with civic agencies, power utilities and social organisations have been held to ensure emergency support in case of rain, storms or power outages. Surprise checks are already under way to monitor outsiders and potential troublemakers, with coordination also established with agencies guarding international borders. Preventive arrests—around 100 a day—are being made to ensure a peaceful Puja.
To ease congestion, no two-wheelers or four-wheelers will be allowed within 100–200 metres of pandals, and visitors will be encouraged to walk to the venues. Key roads connecting the railway station and airport will remain open to ensure smooth transit.
With elaborate safety measures, tech-enabled updates and a large volunteer force, Siliguri police aim to make this Durga Puja not just grand but also safe and hassle-free for all.