A Durga Puja pandal at Himgiri Chauraha in Patna is facing safety and access concerns ahead of the festivities, with organisers citing inadequate streetlighting, roadside encroachments, overgrown tree branches, damaged internal roads and limited crowd-control arrangements.
Organisers of the Shri Vijay Vahini Durga Puja Samiti said several approach lanes around the pandal remain poorly illuminated because existing streetlights are not maintained. Harsh Vardhan, an acting member of the committee, said organisers had installed six to seven halogen lights near the pandal to improve visibility for visitors.
He said the municipal lighting system did not adequately illuminate the lanes surrounding the venue. The lack of lighting could affect the movement of devotees and create difficulties for organisers during the festival, particularly during periods of heavy footfall.
Overgrown branches along the approach roads are another concern. Vardhan said the branches obstruct the movement of the large idol during installation and immersion, making regular tree trimming necessary before those operations take place.
The committee also raised concerns about encroachments on the road outside the pandal. Committee president Santosh Kumar said street vendors occupy nearly half of the 40-foot-wide road, leaving less space for visitors and vehicles. According to Kumar, vendors move away during anti-encroachment drives but return after the operations are completed.
The road space issue has both access and crowd-management implications. A narrower carriageway can reduce the room available for pedestrians, vehicles and emergency movement around a temporary public gathering. The organisers have asked for civic intervention to address the encroachments before visitor numbers rise.
Poor road conditions inside the surrounding lanes have added to the committee’s concerns. Organising member Ashish Manaswain said residents frequently complain about the condition of the roads when committee members approach them for contributions towards the puja.
The committee has also flagged the pandal’s layout, which has a common entry and exit point. Organisers said this could complicate the movement of devotees during peak hours and increase the possibility of overcrowding.
To manage the flow of visitors, the committee has sought the deployment of at least 10 personnel from the National Cadet Corps. The requested personnel would help regulate movement and prevent overcrowding at the venue.
The organisers have called for improved lighting, tree trimming, road repairs, action against encroachments and additional crowd-control support before the festivities. These measures, they said, would help make access to the pandal safer and allow devotees to move more smoothly around the site.
