the goan I network
MARGAO
The men-in-uniform moved in along the Salcete beach belt on Monday evening anticipating huge crowd of visitors, both locals and tourists, to usher in the New Year 2019.
Led by the district Police chief, SP Arvind Gawas, around 200 policemen, including DySP Raju Raut Desai, three PIs, five PSIs and 200 policemen were deployed along the beach belt, right from Cavelossim to Majorda as part of the security arrangements, with major concentration at the world’s famous Colva beach.
Though Colva did not witness the usual rush of visitors to the beach till around 5 pm, the police were expecting a rush by the evening and later in the night.
Colva police station in-charge, PI Filomena Costa told The Goan at the beach that around 200 policemen have been deployed for bandobast duties along the Salcete beach belt. Besides, one IRB platoon and the tourist police, we have requisitioned police force from the Margao police sub-division, including the Konkan railway and Fatorda, he added.
The traffic police also made elaborate parking arrangements at the Colva football grounds for the visitors to park their vehicles and head towards the beach to usher in the New Year.
Colva Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes informed that though the rush of tourists was missing till the evening, he was also expecting people, including domestic tourists to descend at the Colva beach later tonight.
Ice cream hawkers and small time vendors selling grams and nuts were also hoping a rush of the visitors, including domestic tourists at the Colva beach later in
the evening.
