The much-anticipated Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a government initiative to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915, will be celebrated in Bhubaneswar from January 8-10, 2025. Security arrangements are on in full swing to ensure the event, which recognizes the contributions of overseas Indians to the nation’s development, takes place with no room for unforeseen situations. The theme for 2025 is ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat’.

In view of the celebrations, police have been instructed to conduct checks on security infrastructure at hotels and other places where NRIs and delegates from abroad would be accommodated. Mock drills to test emergency response capabilities have also been planned.

Hoteliers have been asked by the police to make use of the SARAI app to gather thorough information about the guests who check-in. Updates would have to be shared with the local police stations for constant monitoring of people’s movement in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri.

With the State government urging the tourism department to book over 3,500 hotel rooms to accommodate NRIs, delegates and senior officials of the ministry of external affairs, the data thus collected for security purposes would be kept confidential to ensure the privacy of guests.

The police have been entrusted with the additional task of sensitising hoteliers to be aware of suspicious activities and alert them in the event of any. Police officers would work with the hotel management to verify if cameras and fire safety equipment positioned in crucial locations are functional. Those who run hotels, guest houses and lodges are required to be in touch with the police prior to and during the three-day event.

Special help desks at the airport and railway stations have been set up to assist NRI delegates. Traffic management on all those days would be monitored by exclusive agencies along with the police. A control team would monitor all the security operations put together for the celebration. – editor@nrifocus.com