Pune: The Alandi Municipal Council has launched an extensive preparation drive to ensure safe and smooth pilgrimage for thousands of warkaris, who are expected to converge on for the annual Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi procession on July 8.According to officials, nearly 190 CCTV cameras will be installed across Alandi and the nearby areas for robust surveillance and crowd management. Apart from this, 1,800 mobile toilets, 900 sanitation units, 15 water tankers, multiple drinking water points across the town, temporary control rooms, monitoring stations, and several other facilities will be deployed.At a review meeting on Thursday, chaired by subdivisional officer Anil Bode, officials from the civic administration, police, health department and other agencies were directed to complete all arrangements before June 30.“Healthcare facilities are also being expanded with emergency medical centres, dedicated hospital beds and ambulances on standby. Special attention is being paid to heat-related illnesses, dehydration and crowd-related emergencies,” said chief officer Madhav Khandekar of the Alandi Municipal Council.The focus, officials said, would be on uninterrupted services to devotees during their stay in the pilgrimage town.Civic teams will also undertake round-the-clock cleaning operations with mechanised equipment and additional manpower. The administration would focus on sanitation with around 1,800 mobile toilets and 900 public sanitation units.Police personnel, along with civic workers and hundreds of volunteers, will be deployed to regulate crowds. Temporary lighting and uninterrupted power supply arrangements are also being made along major routes and congregation areas.Residents, however, have urged authorities to ensure effective implementation. “The wari brings an immense spiritual energy to Alandi, but managing such a huge crowd remains a challenge. The administration’s preparations look promising, but it needs to pay extra attention towards sanitation,” said Swapnil Kamble, an Alandi resident.“Open defecation during the wari is the biggest issue in the town. Therefore, the authorities should set up more mobile toilets at multiple locations to keep a check on the issue,” he said.“The actual test of the preparation begins when lakhs of devotees arrive within a few days. Cleanliness, traffic management and medical facilities must function continuously without disruption,” said Somnath Gaikwad, a resident of the town.
