With the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cornwall Prince Charles expressing his desire to travel to Dehradun by road, this has thrown State Government officials in a tizzy.
Sources said that Charles and his wife Camilla Parker-Bowleswould visit Jolly Grant by air and would love to travel by road during his two-day stay. Officials, especially the Public Welfare Department (PWD), were seen busy in road repairs, especially from Jolly Grant to IMA.
Doon Valley residents believe VIPs should travel to Dehradun by road so that the concerned department is forced to do something concrete in terms of repairing roads and beautifying the State capital.
To review the preparations for the visit of Prince Charles, to Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar convened a meeting with officials at the Secretariat on Wednesday. He directed that the roads to Rishikesh, Narendra Nagar and Sela Qui be improved and cleaned in readiness.
Sources further said that Principal Secretary (Home) Omprakash has instructed the police department to pull out all stops to ensure security of Charles and Camilla. The oryal couple may travel by water as well. The Navy is on call and instructed divers to comb the area for any explosive.
Although Uttarakhand is known as a peaceful State, Government officials are taking no chances. The PWD and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have been alerted to repair roads at the earliest.
To review road preparation, this correspondent visited Rishikesh on Saturday and found officials busy with road repair work. Interestingly roads are being repaired in the presence of police personnel.
A senior official said that most often officials request the VIP visiting to take a flight, more so if the venue has air connectivity. This is done to ensure traffic gridlocks don’t impede progress. Roads are always a Plan B should weather be turbulent. This time the dignitary has categorically said he would love to visit the venue by road. There is extra pressure on PWD since National Highway repair work will be done by the NHAI.
Meanwhile Intelligence agencies, including IB, local Intelligence unit (lIU) have been placed on high alert. Police has been deployed at the designated venue. Visitors are being frisked thoroughly, antecedents of visitors staying at Ananda Hotel — where Charles would also reportedly stay — too are under scrutiny.
Even the British High Commission is liaising with State Government officials. India has cordial relations with the UK and the Union Government is keeping a close watch on Charles’ tour preparation, an official said.
Sources further said that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) officials were busy with the guest list, who’s who invited by Chief Minster Vijay Bahuguna for dinner with Prince Charles.
Prince Charles will arrive at Jolly Grant Airport on November 6 at 4.15 pm by a special plane and proceed to Rishikesh. After a hawan and aarti at Parmarth Niketan, he and Camilla will proceed to a hotel in Narendra Nagar.
On November 7, he will attend functions at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Forest Research Institute (FRI), the Beej Vidyapeeth Farm in Sela Qui, and then return to Narendranagar. The Chief Minister will host a dinner in his honour there.