Only 400 enrolled against 1,500 publicised
Cyberabad police gets a makeover ahead of the Metropolis week. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: The number of international delegates for the Metropolis Week, boldly printed on banners and pasted across the twin cities, sadly does not match the actual number of registered participants.
GHMC claims 1,500 foreign delegates on its banners, but only 400 have enrolled so far and the total number of delegates has not crossed the 2,000 mark yet. As many as 653 participants are from Indian cities, most of them from Telangana.
The conference will begin in the city on October 6. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will formally inaugurate the Congress on October 7 and Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao among other prominent personalities will attend it.
President Pranab Mukherjee will address the valedictory function scheduled on October 9. Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will deliver the keynote address on ‘Of the People, By the People, For the People’ at the plenary session to be moderated by former Defence Research and Develop-ment Organisation chief V. K. Saraswat.
Nobel Peace prize winner Rajendra Pachauri will be speaking on the topic ‘The Politics of Climate Change & Global Cities’ at the event. Mayors of several member cities like Johann-esburg, Barcelona, Berlin, and Tehran among others, technocrats, administrators and experts will be part of the discussions at the Congress.
Delegates will visit Golconda, Charminar and will also be briefed on Projects including Hyderabad Metro Rail, self-help gro-ups, GHMC flood scheme centres and IT Corridor.
Metropolis is a forum to exchange ideas and developments. It is a platform to discuss issues of common interest of cities in terms of development and urban governance, said Mr Rajiv Sharma, TS principal secretary.
Telangana State police to turn travel guides for delegates:
As many as 60 Cyberabad policemen will be the travel guides for the international delegates attending the Metropolis Week.
The 60 law and order officers have been specially trained in soft skills and traffic management. Their job is to greet delegates on arrival, show them their seating arrangement in the vehicle and cater to their requirements. While travelling, these officers will also take care of the traffic and give directions.
The selected officers even got special uniforms: Royal blue collared t-shirts and khakhi trousers. Additional force will be deployed during technical visits of delegates to Charminar, Falaknuma Palace etc.
C.V. Anand, Cyberabad police commissioner said, “In view of the week-long conference, 500 law and order officers will be deployed along with 250 armed personnel. Several interceptor vehicles will be stationed at all major junctions and new barricades will be set up in the city.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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