Medaram Jatara to See 1.5 Crore Devotees; 10,000 Cops to Be Deployed

 Warangal: The massive Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara, scheduled to be held in Medaram from January 28 to 31 next year, will be made successful through coordinated efforts involving the police, district administration and the media, police superintendent Sudheer Ramnath Kekan said.

The SP, along with Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Shivam Upadhyay and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ravinder, held a coordination committee meeting with media persons in Mulugu district on Thursday.

Speaking at the meeting, SP Kekan said the administration is preparing for an enormous turnout, with an estimated 1.5 crore devotees expected to attend the four-day festival. To manage the crowd and ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims, 10,000 police personnel will be deployed.

He said all precautions are being taken to prevent untoward incidents, drawing from previous festival experiences. A comprehensive master plan is already being implemented for works near the Sammakka-Saralamma platforms (Gaddelu).

To improve the darshan experience and reduce waiting time, the police department is revamping the queue system. Five new queue lines are being added, allowing devotees to enter through eight queue lines and exit through three designated gates.

Strict measures are also being planned to address traffic congestion, a recurring challenge during the Jatara. The SP warned that action will be taken against traffic violators and sought public cooperation with the traffic plans.

SP Sudheer Ramnath Kekan also addressed the media representatives, stating that the police are considering providing special vehicles and identification cards to facilitate smooth movement and coverage during the festival. He urged media personnel to report any issues and share constructive suggestions for quick resolution.