Kolkata Police Volunteers to Wear Saffron Uniforms During Durga Puja

Kolkata, September 15 (Daily Kiran) : Kolkata Police has announced that its volunteers will wear saffron-colored uniforms during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. This initiative aims to improve visibility and comfort for the estimated 20,000 volunteers who will assist in maintaining law and order throughout the festivities.

According to a senior officer from Lalbazar, the police headquarters, these new uniforms are designed to allow volunteers to perform their duties comfortably for extended periods. The total cost for producing these uniforms and hats is approximately ₹89 lakh.

As part of their preparations, Kolkata Police recruits volunteers to help manage crowds at various pandals and ensure public safety. In previous years, volunteers typically wore half-sleeve T-shirts while on duty. This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated in the third week of October.

In addition to police personnel, home guards and civic volunteers will also be deployed during the festival, which will last until Vijayadashami. The police heavily rely on these volunteers to manage traffic and maintain order during the celebrations.

Recruitment efforts extend beyond police officers to include students from schools and colleges, as well as members of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and local clubs. Volunteers will receive training in their respective divisions after Mahalaya.

The design of the uniforms has been carefully considered, with two shades of saffron being produced: a darker and a lighter hue. The uniforms will feature the Kolkata Police logo in white on the front, along with the words “Kolkata Police Volunteer” printed in smaller letters on the front and larger letters on the back.

Additionally, volunteers will be provided with orange hats. The budget allocated for the uniforms is ₹73 lakh, while ₹16 lakh has been set aside for the hats. Some volunteers will be stationed on the streets to manage traffic, while others will be positioned at major pandals, where large crowds gather each year. Their primary responsibility will be to ensure the safety and security of attendees.