Kolkata: The foot soldiers of Kolkata Police are poised for an unmistakable visual transformation this Durga Puja. Moving away from its decades-old white-and-blue aesthetic, the force is rolling out a shade of orange across its staggering 20,000-strong non-cop crowd-management ranks for this year’s pujas.Lalbazar has officially floated a Rs 89 lakh tender to dress up temporary volunteers — who will be deployed to manage traffic and pedestrians between Tritiya and Dashami — in vibrant full-sleeve T-shirts and matching peak caps. Designed to stand out against packed pandal corridors and surging crowds, the high-visibility overhaul covers 12,000 units in deep orange and 8,000 in light orange. Bidding for the technical and financial evaluation is slated to close on Sept 30, with an earnest money deposit fixed at Rs 1.8 lakh.The choice of palette goes beyond mere aesthetics, claim senior officers — it is a calculated operational strategy. “During the week-long festivities, arterial roads transform into human oceans that make quick identification of police and volunteers a challenge. The bright orange apparel ensures that citizens, lost children, and motorists can spot support personnel instantly from a distance,” claimed a senior cop.This temporary force — comprising NCC cadets, scouts, civil defence workers, students, and local NGO members — will be posted at crucial intersections, Metro gates, and bottleneck crossings to direct pedestrian movement. Real-time updates regarding crowd densities and traffic diversions will be synchronised with FM radio broadcasts to keep revellers informed, said cops.Apart from the police and security guards sourced from private agencies, this army of volunteers, mostly boys aged not more than 20, fan out across the streets to ensure effective crowd management during the festive days.“Their job will be to manage the crowd of revellers, provide water and rush help in the event of a medical emergency and prevent eve-teasing and other untoward incidents,” said an officer.
