Special striking forces for two-day Bonalu festival in Hyderabad

Special striking forces would be deployed at strategic places on the eve of two-day Bonalu festival beginning from Sunday in old city.
The festival will conclude on Monday with a procession from Shahlibanda and Lal Darwaza to Afzalgunj.
DCP (south) Atul Singh on Saturday said that these forces would be utilised in any emergency.
He said elaborate arrangements were made for smooth conduct of the festival. Around 1,000 policemen, 20 platoons of Armed Force and two companies of Rapid Action Force were also pressed into service.
Policemen would be deployed on rooftops to keep a constant vigil.
Bomb disposal squads would conduct checking at temples and the main procession routes.
“We are requesting devotees not to bring bags and vehicle parking will not be allowed near temples,” the DCP said. He also requested temple committee members not to use DJs during procession.

Wine shops closed
The city police informed that wine shops, including bars and restaurants would be opened after 6 p.m. on Monday in the following police station limits.
The police stations include Sultan Bazaar, Malakpet, Nallakunta, Osmania University, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Punjagutta, Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar, Tukaramgate, Gopalpuram, Karkhana, Mahankali, Market, Trimulgherry, Abids, Begum Bazaar, Narayanguda, Saifabad, Ramgopalpet and Gandhinagar.
However, wine shops and bars, excluding those in star hotels would remain closed from 6 a.m. on Sunday till 5 p.m. on Monday in connection with the festival.

Traffic curbs for Bonalu

Traffic will be either stopped or diverted on some routes in Secunderabad from 4 a.m. on Sunday to 10 p.m. on Monday in connection with Mahankali Bonalu.
The following roads will be closed for all vehicular traffic: Road leading to Mahankali temple from Tobacco Bazar Hill Street and General Bazar, Subhash Road -- starting from Kingsway crossroads --- up to Ramgopalpet police station and the roads leading to Mahankali temple from Lalgudi crossroads (Hill Street) and from General Bazar.
RTC buses coming from Tank Bund towards Secretariat via M.G. Road will be diverted towards Ranigunj, Minister’s road, Parade Ground, Sangeet crossroads and Secunderabad railway station. They would return via Ghansmandi road. Those coming from Tank Bund towards Secunderabad via M.G. Road, Paradise (CTO junction), St. Ann’s School, Sangeet crossroads and Keyes High School will be stopped in the by-lane near Keyes High School. They will return via St. Mary’s Junior College and St. Ann’s College to their destinations.
The road from Secunderabad railway station towards St. Mary’s road will be closed from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday.
All buses proceeding towards Secunderabad railway station from Hakeempet, Bowenpally, Balanagar and Ameerpet will be terminated at YMCA. They will return to their destinations via Patny.