Two “carnivals” in the heart of the city, separated by around 300m, will witness elaborate police deployments on Tuesday afternoon.

The Joint Platform of Doctors has called for a “carnival of protest (Droher Carnival)” on Rani Rashmoni Avenue to express solidarity with the protesting junior doctors, several of whom are on a fast unto death in Esplanade.

The state government, like every year, is organising the Durga Puja carnival on Red Road. This year’s carnival will see the idols of 94 pujas being paraded through the thoroughfare.

Both events are scheduled to start at 4pm. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be the chief guest at the show on Red Road.

“There will be elaborate police deployments at both venues. The Red Road has been split into segments and teams of senior officers will be responsible for each segment. On RR Avenue, there will be an adequate number of cops led by senior officers,” said an officer of Kolkata Police.

Bengal’s chief secretary Manoj Pant had requested the Joint Platform of Doctors on Sunday evening not to hold the “carnival of protest” on Tuesday. The organisation turned down the request.

The police have not provided a “no-objection certificate” to the doctors for the protest. On Monday, senior officers said they would inform the doctors and other protesters who are planning to gather on RR Avenue on Tuesday afternoon about an order that restricts rallies in and around Esplanade under the Bharatiya Nagarika Surkasha Sanhita (BNSS).

“If the congregation is large and threatens to disrupt traffic, we will divert some of the puja organisers through Ganesh Chandra Avenue from Central Avenue. Necessary traffic diversions will be made as and when required,” the officer said.

Members of the Joint Platform of Doctors said they would hold cultural shows at Droher Carnival.

“There won’t be any makeshift stage. We expect people to turn up in large numbers and all may not be accommodated on RR Avenue,” said Punyabrata Gun, a joint convener of the Joint Platform of Doctors.

Gun said some of the protesters would carry placards recalling the August 9 rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and atrocities on women at other places, including Joynagar.

The protesting junior doctors said they would not join Droher Carnival. Instead, they will form a human chain from Esplanade in support of their 10-point charter of demands. They said they would ensure that thePuja carnival on Red Road is not disrupted because of them.

“We will not fall prey to any provocation. We will not disrupt the Puja carnival,” said Debasish Halder, one of the protesting junior doctors.