The Hyderabad city police have put out a detailed list of routes to avoid on Sunday, September 23, in view of the immersion of several Ganesha idols across the city.
While necklace road and all roads leading to Tank Bund will almost be inaccessible to commuters, the police said that there would also be traffic restrictions in other areas.
In a release, the police said "The main procession will start at Keshavagiri and proceed towards Hussain Sagar via Chandrayangutta, Chatrinaka, Lal Darwaza, Nagulchintha, Shahalibanda, Moghalpura, Charminar, Gulzar Houz and Pathergatti. After this, it will enter into Afzalgunj and make its way through Siddiamber Bazar, MJ Market, Abids and Basheerbagh."
"The other processions coming from Balapur, Pahadi Sharif, Maheswaram, Mahankali etc will join the main procession at Keshavagiri. The procession, which starts at Aliabad will pass through Syed Ali Chabutra and join the main procession at Shahalibanda. Small processions from the neighbouring areas like Engine Bowli and Falaknuma will join the procession at Aliabad. Tributary processions coming from Gowlipura, Chandulal Bela, Hari Bowli will join the main procession at Nagulchinta," the police added.
The police have also stepped up security across communally sensitive areas to avoid any untoward incidents.
"The processions coming from old Kabutara Khana, Shahgunj, Chelapura and Alijah Kotla which pass through sensitive areas like Hussain Alam, Chowk Mosque, Ladbazar, Etiibar Chowk will join the main procession at Charminar. The procession which starts at Indira Seva Sadan in Santosh Nagar crossroads will pass through Saidabad, Govt. Printing Press, Police Hospital in Malakpet, Nalgonda X road, Chaderghat, Victoria Play Grounds, Puthlibowli X roads, Jambagh and join the main procession at MJ Market. Small processions of neighbouring areas like Santosh Nagar, Saroor Nagar, Dilsukh Nagar, Karman ghat etc. will join the procession at Saidabad X Roads and Nalgonda X roads," the police said.
Some smaller processions, which begin from various localities are also expected to join the main procession at different points like Lal Darwaza, Nagulchintha, Charminar, Afzalgunj, MJ Market and Liberty X roads.
"The procession from areas of Mehdipatnam, Langer House, Tappachabutra, Karwan, Puranapul, Jummerat Bazar and Begum Bazar also join the main procession at MJ Market. Another procession from Mehdipatnam passes through Mallepally X roads and Bazarghat and joins at MJ Market. Yet another procession starts from SR Nagar and passes through Panjagutta, Somajiguda, Khairtabad, Iqbal Minor, Secretariat and reaches NTR Marg. Similarly, there will be smaller processions from Secunderabad and Hyderabad reaching the Hussain Sagar Lake," the police stated.
The Hyderabad city police is taking no chances as it said that it had all large idols were registered and allotted a QR code, which would be helpful in monitoring it.
"Quick Release Hooks used in immersion of the idols will reduce the time of immersion considerably i.e. by 60% to 70%, while the police has installed more than 8,000 cameras to cover each and every corner of the procession in the city," the press release said.
The communally sensitive Balapur procession route alone has over 290 CCTV cameras, according to the police.
"By establishing a separate Command Control Centre with CCTV surveillance at Charminar, the city police can now monitor now the entire procession in the old city area. Command Control Centre has been established at Tank Band to look after the entire immersion. Camera Mounted vehicles which are having the capability of PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) and wireless connectivity to the Command Control Centre are also patrolling the streets," the police said.