The State police have made elaborate security arrangements in view of the President Pranab Mukherjee’s Uttarakhand visit. Additional police forces were deployed along the routes in the city through which the President’s motorcade passed. President arrived at GTC helipad at around 2 pm. He would visit Kedarnath on September 28. A reception would be hosted at Ashiana where the President is staying for the dignitaries the same day. On September 29, he would go to Haridwar for Ganga Aaarti. From Haridwar he would go straight to Jolly Grant to fly back to New Delhi.
Security was tightened at Jolly Grant Airport area, GTC, Raj Bhawan and other places through which the motorcade of the President passed. However, the commuters were inconvenienced as traffic was held up during the time the President’s motorcade passed.
Ashiyana where the President is staying has been converted into a fortress with no one sans valid entry cards being allowed in its vicinity. Intelligence staffs are on their toes too.
Meanwhile, in view of the President’s visit, the district police have firmed up a traffic plan. Traffic is being diverted to ensure that the commuters are spared traffic hold-ups, said the police officers. They added that vehicles loaded with cement, gas, oil and the like would not be allowed to ply along the routes the President would use during the visit.
To strengthen the security, around 2500 administrative officers and police personnel, including 10 SPs, 25 Assistant/Additional SPs, 40 Circle Officers, Police Station in-charges, Inspectors, Sub-inspectors, Women Sub-Inspectors, Head Constables, women head constables, constables and women constables, have been deployed aside from 10 companies of PAC and fire units. A senior police officer said that the policemen have been strictly directed not to use mobile phones while on duty. Besides, they have been asked not to leave their assigned posts without informing their seniors beforehand.