Lucknow: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on September 18, state authorities have stepped up security preparations for the VVIP movement.
"Preparations are underway for the proposed visit of the Prime Minister to Varanasi for not only maintaining law and order but also to oversee smooth flow of traffic during the visit," Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) A Satish Ganesh said.
During his visit to Varanasi, a trip that the Prime Minister has been forced to cancel thrice earlier, Modi is expected to inaugurate Integrated Power Development Scheme at DLW grounds and lay foundation stone for a ring road project. He will also launch a project for four-laning of a road and address a public meeting in his constituency.
"Instructions have been issued from the Director General of Police (DGP) office here on 51-point check list for traffic and security arrangements," the IG said adding that extra force is also being made available by the police headquarter.
"As many as 11 SP-level officers are being made available for law and order and five for security purposes besides 15 ASPs, 24 deputy SPs and eight companies of PAC and one company of river police for river patrolling," he said.
Security agencies have also made a demand for 10 companies of central paramilitary force while other security measures for safe road travel like bulletproof vehicles, anti-mine devices, bomb disposal squad are also being arranged. However, the IG said the 'minute-to-minute programme' of the Prime Minister was awaited.
To a question, the IG said that Saharanpur administration successfully made arrangements for the prime minister's visit today in just 24 hours.
"We got only 24 hours to make preparations for which force was mobilised round the clock," he added.
Ahead of PM's visit, BJP president Amit Shah will undertake a trip to Varanasi on September 15.
