Police step up surveillance at Srirangam temple

The Tiruchi City Police have stepped up security and surveillance at the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in connection with the 22-day Vaikunta Ekadasi festival that commenced on Friday. 

As part of the security arrangement, a temporary police outpost has been set up inside the sprawling temple complex, which was inaugurated by the Commissioner of Police N. Kamini on Friday.

The temporary police outpost equipped with monitors is connected to 125 surveillance cameras installed at key spots within the temple complex and 110 cameras put up in the temple’s surroundings besides 10 cameras in the parking lots to monitor the activities taking place and mount vigil.

Watch towers are to be established at the junctions of important ‘veedhis’ in Srirangam. The highlight of the annual festival is the opening of the Paramapadhavaasal in the early hours on December 30.  About 2,800 police personnel from Tiruchi City and other districts are to be deployed for security on the day of the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. Police personnel in shifts would be deployed for the Pagal Pathu and Iraa Pathu.

Arrangements were made to ensure smooth movement of traffic on the day of the opening of the Paramapadhavaasal. Parking lots have been identified separately for devotees and for the VIP and car pass holders, a police press release said.