Blanket of security for President's visit to city today

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure the safety of President Pranab Mukherjee on his visit to the city of palaces on Monday.

Police Commissioner M A Saleem told Deccan Herald, a stretch of around 15-km road from Mysore Airport at Mandakalli to the programme venue, the new building of the JSS Hospital on Mahatma Gandhi road in the city, and its surroundings will remain sterile, till the stay of the dignitary from 2.30 pm onwards.

 The programme is scheduled for 3 pm, when the President will dedicate the 1,800-bed teaching hospital (JSS) built at an estimated cost of Rs 450 crore.

Beginning from the guests receiving the first citizen of the nation, after his arrival in a special aircraft at the airport, to the organisers at the programme venue, a detailed planning has been made as per the requirements of VIP security arrangements, the commissioner added.

Dignitaries

Only eight dignitaries will be allowed to receive the President at the airport. It includes Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Revenue and District In-Charge Minister V Sreenivas Prasad, Mayor N M Rajeshwari, Police Commissioner, Regional Commissioner M V Jayanthi, Deputy Commissioner C Shikha and the Air Commodore.

The road on which the convoy passes will be closed from 1.30 pm, with alternative arrangements made for the public.  At the programme venue too, limited passes have been issued to the organisers. The visitors (both invitees and public) have to mandatorily bring the invitation card, to gain hassle-free entry. They have to be seated before 2.30 pm and hand bag, water bottles and cellphones have been prohibited.

Elaborate security

A blanket of security arrangements is in place with 600 civil police and 210 traffic police on duty. That apart, 60 men have been summoned from neighbouring districts, besides four officers in the cadre of DySP and six inspectors.

On Saturday and Sunday, full dress rehearsal was conducted on the VIP route. The commissioner, who reviewed the arrangements took note of frequent movement of stray cattle on the stretch. The commissioner said he has asked his men (police) to get rid of the cattle as early as possible.

Last visit

The last President to visit the city (pass through the city) was Prathibha Devi Singh Patil, who dedicated the JSS Girls Hostel at Suttur.

Patil’s predecessor A P J Abdul Kalam too visited the city as President to participate in a programme organised at Infosys, Hootagalli on the outskirts. Kalam also dedicated the free hostel for boys at Suttur.