District administrator creating crowd control strategy for Fort Kochi New Year celebration

In an attempt to avert the stampede-like conditions that were seen during the New Year’s celebration in Fort Kochi last year, the district government of Ernakulam is developing a thorough strategy for crowd control in advance of the Pappanji burning at Parade Ground.

The Parade Ground’s parking spaces and ports of access and departure will be marked on a comprehensive map that will be created and given to the general public, according to Fort Kochi sub-collector K Meera, who spoke with TNIE.

“On the day of the conclusion, the Fort Kochi entrance and departure locations will be marked. In a few locations, there will only be one-way traffic, and an ambulance-only lane will be constructed in case of an emergency. After meeting on Monday night in Fort Kochi with representatives from the Cochin Carnival committee, KSEB, KWA, police, fire and rescue, and health, Meera said, “We are planning a detailed crowd management plan for the smooth conduct of the event.”

Concerns are raised since New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday and organizers expect over 3 lakh people to attend.

Approximately 2.5 lakh New Year’s revelers gathered in Fort Kochi last year.

“Since the day falls on a weekend, we anticipate over 3 lakh visitors this time.” There will be stringent restrictions on vehicle entrance into Fort Kochi. Parking spots close to Thevara will be marked so that you may escape rush hour. Additionally, health centers will be established close to the event to handle any unfavorable situations, according to the sub-collector.

The fact that Parade Ground can only hold 25,000 people indicates how daunting the job at hand is going to be. Another issue is the limited area close to the shore, which makes it difficult for the law enforcement organizations in charge of crowd control.

Additionally, an extension of the Fort Kochi program until midnight was planned in order to prevent the instant departure of spectators. To draw a sizable portion of the public, the district government is thinking of hosting a musical event at Ernakulam Durbar Hall Ground. There is doubt, nevertheless, that these steps will really lessen foot traffic in the region. The only way to keep things under control is to restrict access to Parade Ground, according to a district administration source.

The Nava Kerala Sadas activities in four Ernakulam constituencies (Tripunithura, Thrikkakara, Kunnathunad, and Piravom) on January 1 and 2 are another source of worry for the district government. According to sources, the officers are unable to remain in Fort Kochi for the whole New Year’s Eve celebrations because of the Nava Kerala Sadas at Thrikkakara and Piravom the next day. Thus, a senior commander said, “managing the force will be a major challenge.”

A large number of individuals, including ladies, were hurt in the close crush during Pappanji’s fire last year. The huge throng poured into nearby streets and homes, reducing police personnel to mere onlookers.