Traffic woes likely on Berasia Road as Ijtema arrivals begin
The four-day event begins at dawn on Friday
Bhopal
Traffic restrictions will remain in place at several locations in the state capital beginning with the Aalmi Tablighi Ijtema on November 29. The entry of heavy transport vehicles will remain totally barred starting from the evening of December 1.
The restrictions will end following the conclusion of Ijtema proceedings at the village of Eintkhedi on Berasia Road on December 2.
Tens of lakhs of devotees are expected to participate in the mass Dua (prayer), which marks the culmination of the annual four-day event.
Police and civic authorities are working round the clock to ensure the smooth conduct of the event—one of the largest anywhere in the world.
Organisers said that all arrangements at the venue have been completed. They thanked the administration for the support being lent to the event.
Police officials, after meeting organising committee members for a review on Wednesday, said that nearly 2,500 personnel will be deployed for the smooth functioning of the religious congregation that attracts devotees from across the globe.
Civic authorities are also providing critical services to support the event. The Ministry of Ayush has taken over responsibility for medical services and facilities at the Ijtemagah venue.
In a bid to minimise the carbon footprint of the event, organisers have banned single-use plastics from the venue and installed a minimum recycling unit at the congregation site.
They said that all waste at the venue will be segregated and composted to ensure that the environment remains unharmed by the Ijtema, which is now in its 77th year.
Volunteers appointed by the organising committee are manning the facilitation counters for congregants arriving for the Ijtema. Adequate arrangements are in place for meals and snacks for the visitors while they await transport to ferry them to the venue.
The transport department has made 400 buses available to the organisers. Nearly twice that number of buses and trucks will also ply between railway stations, bus stands, and the Ijtema site.
Thousands of private vehicles, including cars, autos, and two-wheelers, will also be on the streets during the Ijtema period. The extra traffic is likely to cause traffic bottlenecks at several places, especially on roads that are still boarded up due to ongoing metro rail work.
