KOLKATA ACTIVATES A 10,000-PERSONNEL SECURITY GRID AS DURGA PUJA CROWDS BEGIN TO SWELL

October 12, 2026

Kolkata Police will launch a full-scale security deployment from Chaturthi on October 14, with approximately 10,000 personnel expected to patrol the city’s roads around the clock during Durga Puja. The arrangements are intended to manage the enormous crowds expected at prominent pandals, prevent traffic congestion and maintain law and order throughout the festival.

The deployment will draw personnel from police stations, various units of Kolkata Police and the traffic police. An officer at Lalbazar said the figure of around 10,000 would not include personnel kept on standby at control rooms or reserve forces. The formal deployment and briefing of officers are yet to take place.

Traffic management will be a central priority as lakhs of people are expected to visit pandals across Kolkata. The city attracts visitors from across India and abroad during Durga Puja, making the movement of pedestrians and vehicles a significant challenge for the police. Officers will concentrate on preventing bottlenecks, controlling crowds at major intersections and allowing visitors to move between pandals with minimal inconvenience.

The security network will combine CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, police pickets, watchtowers and quick response teams. Major pandals will receive dedicated security arrangements, with additional personnel assigned according to anticipated crowd sizes and local requirements. Civic volunteers and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets will also assist police personnel in managing crowds and facilitating movement.

Although the citywide deployment will begin on Chaturthi, police personnel have already been stationed at several prominent pandals inaugurated ahead of the main festivities. Two major pandals were inaugurated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday, while large crowds were also reported across the city during the final Sunday before Puja as shoppers made last-minute purchases and pandal-hoppers began visiting popular attractions.

The extensive preparations reflect the challenge of safeguarding one of Kolkata’s busiest annual celebrations, when major intersections, shopping districts and popular pandals experience a sharp increase in footfall. With additional forces, surveillance systems and crowd-management teams set to operate across the city, Kolkata Police is preparing for round-the-clock security operations as the Durga Puja rush intensifies from October 14.