The Mysuru Dasara portal launched by Mysuru City police will give visitors online access to festival venues, tourist places, parking areas, hospitals, police help desks and traffic updates during the celebrations from October 11 to 21.
The browser-based platform, available at mysurupolicedasaraportal.com, also provides Google Maps directions and allows visitors to report traffic problems, harassment and other safety issues to the police. Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar announced the portal along with a two-phase security plan for the festival.
The portal does not require an app download or user login. It can be opened on desktop computers and smartphones and is available in Kannada and English. Police said it would carry updates on road closures, parking arrangements, event timings, notices, Dasara venues and public facilities.
The security deployment will cover the two phases from October 11 to 18 and October 19 to 21. The arrangements involve about 8,500 police personnel, including 1,500 trained home guards. A total of 5,161 civil and traffic police personnel from across Karnataka have also been assigned Dasara duty, according to the police.
Eighteen police help desks will be established to assist visitors with information about tourist destinations, Dasara venues and hospitals. Police have also reserved 28 ambulances and 32 fire and emergency services vehicles for emergencies during the festival.
Safety arrangements include four teams of ‘akka pade’, or sister teams, working in different shifts for the protection of children and women. Police have also identified 92 old buildings along the procession route between Mysuru Palace and the Banni Mantap grounds. Owners have been instructed to take steps to prevent members of the public from climbing the structures. Measures will also be taken to stop people from climbing trees during the procession.
Mysuru City police have formed 20 social media monitoring teams comprising 58 staff members to track handles spreading rumours during the festival season. The police said the monitoring would form part of the broader security arrangements for the celebrations.
Traffic restrictions will be in place around Mysuru Palace from October 11 to 21. Vehicle movement will be allowed in an anti-clockwise direction between 3pm and midnight on all 11 days. One-way traffic rules will also be introduced on several roads in the central business district, while street parking will be restricted during the festival.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus movement will face restrictions, and light motor vehicles will be diverted at Manipal junction to reduce congestion in the city. The portal is intended to bring these operational updates together with emergency and visitor information in one publicly accessible platform.
Deputy Commissioners of Police Harsha Priyamvada and K S Sundar Raj were present when the arrangements were announced.
