Tight security for PM's visit to Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: The security has been tightened for Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s visit to the city  to  inaugurate  the “Vision Conclave” as part of the ongoing Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) 2016 at Swapna Nagari, Ernahipalam, on Tuesday.

He will reach Calicut airport, Karipur,  at 11.25 a.m.  and land at  West Hill Vikram Maithan in  a  chopper by 11. 50 a.m.  From there, he will proceed to the venue, six km away,   by 12.05 noon.

The helipad at West Hill has been spruced up to facilitate the safe landing of the chopper.  

After the inauguration,  the PM will fly to Coimbatore and  inaugurate the ESIC medical college at Varadharajapuram near Singanallur around 4 p.m., according to sources.

City police commissioner Uma Behra, RRRF Commandant A.V. George  and  Additional Director- General of Police (ADGP), North Zone, Nitin Agarwal,  inspected  the main venue  on Monday.  A trial run of the motorcade was also conducted.

In addition to the 40-member Special Protection Group, a team of 1,314 police officials  and central  Intelligence unit officials have been deployed at various spots of the city.  

“The Special Protection Group from Delhi has already visited the venues and the spot where the PM will land, ” the police commissioner said.

In case the  PM has to take a road trip from Karipur airport to the main venue, a team of 90 police officials, besides other teams,   will accompany the vehicle, she added.

The PM will  return  to Karipur airport by 1.10 p.m. Bomb and dog squads have also been deployed,  she  said and added that the traffic in the city would be controlled for the day.