The administration is gearing up for President Ram Nath Kovind’s maiden visit to Ayodhya where he is scheduled to arrive by a presidential train along with Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday.
President Kovind is slated to stay in Ayodhya for around four hours.
District Magistrate of Ayodhya, Anuj Kumar Jha, said that the administration was working round the clock to make a foolproof arrangement for the President's visit and was coordinating with other state agencies to make the event memorable.
The administration has made arrangements of over five quintals of flowers to deck up the city from Ayodhya railway station to the programme venue besides giving a saffron hue to the entire city.
Railway authorities said that Ayodhya railway station’s platform number 1, where the presidential train would halt, had been decorated. They said a special vehicle would be stationed near the coach from where the President would alight. To accommodate other dignitaries, including the chief minister and governor, a VIP guest room has been erected on the platform
District officials said the President would inaugurate Ramayana conclave and other projects.
Over 250 artists will stage cultural programmes at eight different sites between Ayodhya railway station and Ram Katha Park. The President will also release a book and a Ramayana Sabari song will be presented by Malini Awasthi and troupe. There will be a screening of a film based on Ayodhya followed by the inauguration of three projects. Besides, the President will also participate in a tree plantation programme in Hanuman Garhi and go for a darshan of Ram Lalla and inspect the construction of Ram temple at Ram Janmabhoomi between 2 pm and 3 pm.
However, the residents of Ayodhya will have to face several restrictions due to the President’s visit as they will not be allowed entry in the route designated for the President's convoy. Normal train services on the 135 km-long Lucknow -Ayodhya route will also be affected for around eight hours. At least 12 trains will be diverted as the normal rail traffic on the Lucknow-Ayodhya route will be stopped between 8 am and 12 noon and from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Railway officials said one pilot engine in the front and another in the rear will go with the presidential train to Ayodhya and return to Lucknow the same day. The train will have technical staff along with additional eight loco pilots and six guards.
The President will return to Ayodhya railway station at 3:40 pm and the presidential train will chug off at 3:50 pm to reach Lucknow at 6:10 pm on Sunday.