Mysuru:Finding Dasara venues, tourist places, parking lots, hospitals and police help desks will be just a click away this festive season, with Mysuru City police launching a one-of-a-kind Dasara visitors portal (DVP).The online platform, likely to benefit lakhs of visitors during the celebrations from Oct 11 to 21, provides information and a link to report traffic problems or harassment.Commissioner of police Seema Latkar, who Friday announced a two-phase security arrangement involving about 8,500 police personnel, including 1,500 trained home guards, said updates on road closures, parking, timings and event notices, Dasara venues and public facilities, along with directions on Google Maps, have been made available at https://mysurupolicedasaraportal.comVisitors can also use the platform to report harassment, safety issues or traffic-related problems and seek assistance from Mysuru City police.The portal opens in any web browser and does not require visitors to install an app or log in. Information is available in Kannada and English, and the portal is accessible on desktop computers and smartphones and loads quickly, the commissioner explained.Over 5k civil and traffic cops roped inAs many as 5,161 civil and traffic cops from across state have been roped in for Dasara duty. Bandobast arrangements have been made in two phases, from Oct 11-18 and Oct 19-21.Latkar said 18 police help desks will be set up to provide visitors information about tourist places, Dasara venues and hospitals.Police have identified 92 old buildings along the procession route from Mysuru Palace to Banni Mantap grounds. Owners have been instructed to take measures to prevent the public from climbing the old structures.Measures will also be taken to prevent youths from climbing trees during the procession as a precaution.Social media monitoringPolice have formed 20 teams comprising 58 staffers to monitor social media handles spreading rumours during the festival season.Besides, 28 ambulances and 32 fire and emergency services vehicles have been reserved to attend to emergencies.For the safety of children and women, four ‘akka pade’ (sister teams) have been formed, with each team working in different shifts.DCPs Harsha Priyamvada and KS Sundar Raj were present.Traffic restrictionsMysuru City police have imposed restrictions on vehicular movement around Mysuru Palace between Oct 11 and 21 to ensure smooth flow of traffic as part of the Dasara celebration. Vehicle movement will be allowed in an anti-clockwise direction from 3pm to 12 midnight on all 11 days. Besides, one-way traffic rules will be brought in on several stretches in the central business district and street parking is restricted during the festival days. KSRTC bus movement has been restricted and movement of all LMVs will be diverted at Manipal junction to prevent congestion of traffic in the city.
