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The stage is all set for the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his parliamentary constituency here on Thursday.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made to keep close vigil during the about 5-hour stay of the prime minister who will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of projects worth more than Rs 1,500 crore.
Top police officers held a meeting at the Police Lines to brief the security instructions to the subordinates so that watchful surveillance could be kept by land, water and air.
Top leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, including state co-incharge Sunil Ojha and regional president Mahesh Chandra Srivastava inspected all the arrangements at the IIT-BHU Grounds where Modi will address a public meeting at around 11 am. During their stay, the BJP leaders discussed the details with the senior administrative and police officials regarding the sitting and other plans. A selected number of people would be allowed in the meeting following all Covid guidelines.
As Modi is arriving here after several months due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the state government and district administration are leaving no stone unturned to show any laxity in making foolproof security and best arrangements. In this connection, just a day ago Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself visited the city for the second time within a week to ensure perfect arrangements. Prior to him, the chief secretary and DGP had also come here to review the preparations.
Meanwhile, ahead of the prime minister’s arrival, the motorcade rehearsal was made from the helipad at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Grounds. The officials of the Special Protection Group (SPG) had already arrived to ensure foolproof security arrangements at all the places that the prime minister is scheduled to visit. A heavy police force, including personnel of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and paramilitary forces, has already been deployed at IIT-BHU Grounds and Rudraksh. Besides, NDRF personnel will keep watch on all the activities at the river Ganga during the prime minister’s stay here.
At per schedule, around 11 am, the prime minister will inaugurate various public projects and works, including a 100 bed MCH wing in BHU, multi-level parking at Godowlia, Ro-Ro vessels for tourism development on river Ganga and three-lane Railway Over Bridge (ROB) on Varanasi-Ghazipur Highway near Ashapur through remote from IIT-BHU Grounds.
In all, Modi will inaugurate projects worth around Rs 744 crore and lay the foundation stones of several projects and public works worth around Rs 839 crore. These include the centre for skill and technical support of the Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology (CIPET), 143 rural projects under Jal Jeevan Mission and mango and vegetable integrated pack house in Karkhiyaon.
Later, around 12:15 pm, the prime minister will inaugurate the International Cooperation and Convention Centre -- Rudrakash, which has been constructed with Japanese assistance. Japanese Ambassador in India Suzuki Satoshi, along with his wife and other Japanese delegates have already arrived in the city to attend this programme. The project was initiated when Modi along with his then Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe visited the city in 2015.
Thereafter, at 2 pm, Modi will inspect the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) wing at BHU where he will also meet with officials and medical professionals to review Covid preparedness.