Arvind Kejriwal to take oath as Delhi Chief Minister today, over one lakh people expected
New Delhi: Preparations are in full swing at the Ramlila Maidan here for Chief Minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal's swearing-in ceremony on Saturday with a massive crowd expected to converge on the historic ground.
Multiple agencies, from Delhi Police to Public Works Department are working in tandem to secure the venue ahead of the big day.
Sweepers clean the venue of the oath-taking ceremony of Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
The ground, which served as the battleground for the 46-year-old anti-graft crusader during the Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption movement, is also getting decked up to host Kejriwal for his second oath-taking ceremony.
"A total of 76 CCTV cameras have been installed inside the ground and around its periphery to secure the venue. Two monitoring units have been set up, with one taking care of 51 cameras while the other tracking the rest 25," a senior PWD engineer said.
Policemen guard the venue of the oath-taking ceremony of Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
Security personnel drawn from ITBP, CRPF, CISF, SSB and Delhi Police have been deployed at the venue.
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Metal detectors have also been installed in and around the ground, while "60 baggage scanners" have been put in for the first time to further strengthen the security cover, he said.
"For visitors, nearly 40,000 seats have been put up, and, we are also making arrangements for standing for about 20,000 more people... VIP enclosures would be included in the main seating area," a senior Delhi government official said.
A jubilant AAP is also waiting for the day with bated breath, and are expecting a huge crowd, with supporters pouring in to the venue.
"Our estimate is about 1.5 lakh people. Last time, it was a little over a lakh, but since the victory is much bigger, more people will pour in this time," an AAP official, who had come to the venue to assess the preparations, said.
To meet these expectations, authorities have installed "12 LED video walls of 10 ft x 8ft each inside the venue and 9 of them outside", for the gathering crowd.
"During the last oath-taking ceremony, we had installed 7 LED video walls only, but this time the enthusiasm is much bigger, after the party's stupendous results. Of the 12 video walls, six have been installed on each side inside the venue," the PWD engineer said.
A worker installs cameras as part of preparations for the oath-taking ceremony of Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
The main stage at the ground, from where, Kejriwal has addressed huge crowd several times in the past has been given a fresh paint job for the occasion.
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The PWD's Horticulture Department is also busy decking up the venue with potted plants and flowers.
