Sant Tukaram palkhi to reach Akurdi today

After an overnight halt, the procession will leave Akurdi on Monday and reach Pune city the same day.

The Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhi will leave Alandi for Pandharpur on Sunday. This palanquin will also reach Pune by Monday.

Meanwhile, in a first, the Pune city police have prepared a special web page to give live updates of the Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhi processions.

During a press conference on Saturday, commissioner of Pune city police Retesh Kumaarr shared details of the web page “diversion.punepolice.gov.in”, which will provide updates about the palkhi procession through GPS.

The palkhis or the palanquins carrying the ‘paduka’ or revered symbolic footwear of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, would enter Pune city on June 12 and are slated to reach Pandharpur on June 29.

A press release issued on Saturday said people using mobile phones and computers can see the palkhi procession online and also track the route of the palanquins by clicking on the web page launched by the police.

“Four motorcycles with GPS would accompany the palanquins of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj to share the live location of the palkis. The GPS system would also enable better traffic management and security arrangements for the procession,” the press release mentioned.

Police said the web page will also provide details of vehicle parking arrangements made at the SSPMS College ground, Sinchan Nagar and Race Course during the palkhi procession in Pune.

Meanwhile, a huge number of police personnel, including senior officers and constabulary of Pune city police, Pune rural police and Pimpri Chinchwad police, would be deployed at different locations to maintain law and order during the palkhi procession from June 12 onwards.

Companies of the state reserve police force (SRPF) would also be pressed into service. Special squads have been formed to check on chain snatching and pickpocketing.

The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and the dog squad have also been pressed into service and deployed at important locations. Quick Response Teams (QRT) will be deployed at crowded spots.

Police help centers have been set up at different spots on the palkhi route for helping citizens and Warkaris, the press release said.