Security upped in Dharmasthala ahead of prime minister's visit

Security has been tightened in Dharmasthala and Ujire in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Sunday.

The movement of vehicles in the temple town has been restricted between 8 am and 2 pm.

The prime minister will distribute Rupay cards to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and launch digitised transaction of self-help groups in Karnataka. More than 3,000 police personnel have been deployed in the temple town.

The personnel of the elite Special Protection Group have been keeping vigil on strategic points in the town. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad teams have also been stationed.

The Public Works department has constructed two helipads at a cost of Rs 15 lakh in Dharmasthala. Modi will arrive by a special flight to Mangaluru International Airport and, would fly by helicopter to Dharmasthala.

According to Superintendent of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy, all the vehicles from Mangaluru to Dharmasthala should ply via Mangaluru-BC Road-Uppinangady-Nelyadi-Periyashanthi-Kokkada-Niddle-Dharmasthala.