Ramlila Maidan gets spruced up for Kejri's swearing-in ceremony

Ramlila Maidan is getting spruced up for Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s swearing-in ceremony as Delhi Chief Minister on Saturday.

The city government, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Public Works Department have started making arrangements on Wednesday. Last year also, Kejriwal had taken oath here — the ground where Anna Hazare led the India Against Corruption movement.

The North Corporation officials said much of the work was done during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally on January 10.

“Sweeping has been done with the help of 50 to 60 safai karamcharies and the premises has also been whitewashed wherever it was required. The levelling of the ground has been done while it will be watered at night to settle the dust,” said the official.

Even mobile toilets will be stationed on the premises, he added.
“Some 15 mobile toilets with 14 seats in each for men and women will be stationed on the day. Two mobile medical units will be stationed at Ramlila Maidan on February 14,” he said. Two water tankers have also been arranged, he added.

The ground will be divided into a dozen of enclosures with an LED screen each where people can watch Kejriwal taking oath as Delhi chief minister, the official said.

The PWD has taken the charge of decking up the dais and premises with flowers.
The city government is making arrangements to accommodate over 50,000 people. “The department is making preparations for nearly 40,000 seats, including VIP enclosures,” the official said. “There will also be space for over 20,000 people to stand. No tent has been put up as the ceremony will be in the open.”

Crowd management is a major concern of the city govt as over one lakh people had attended the 2013 oath-taking ceremony on December 29.