Visakhapatnam: The rehearsals of the City Parade, ahead of the International Fleet Review, added vibrancy and colour to the already brimming RK Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
Contingents from the Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, State police, NCC, foreign navies and bands from the three services and visiting countries marched across the RK Beach Road in the evening, becoming a cynosure for all eyes.
Each participating navy displayed their country’s rich heritage and culture holding their national flag to the applause from a huge crowd, including many foreign nationalists.
The hornpipe dance performed by the foreign navies in hard shoes was the highlight of the event. The spectacular show put up by various navies left the audience spellbound as everybody came with a different theme.
Several veteran navy personnel also participated in the event, showcasing their unmitigated patriotism towards the country. Some youngsters performed modern dances to the delight of the audience. Tableaux with various themes rolled down the Beach Road.
A huge crowd thronged the RK Beach area in the evening to witness the live action of navy personnel from all over the world. The parade with an international flavour and a cross-section of Indian culture was akin to festive atmosphere.
US Navy Chief for IFR
Signalling deepening strategic maritime relationship with India, US’ top naval official-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson will be attending the IFR, hosted by Indian Navy at Vizag.
US is also sending two warships to participate in the IFR. Significantly, US is looking at rebalancing Asia Pacific region and expecting India, Australia, Japan to strengthen their ties among themselves.
Richardson, who has taken over as US chief of naval operations last September, has already reached New Delhi. India and US, also participate in annual maritime joint exercise, Malabar.
Dhokla, shrikhand for Modi, fish, Galouti kebab for President
Dhokla, Rasgulla, Shrikhand and Zeera Rice, these are a few of the varieties to be served to President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will visit Vizag during the International Fleet Review on Feb. 6 and 7.
Sources in the police department said both the President and the PM will reach Vizag on Feb. 5 at 10 pm and soon after landing at INS Dega, both will drive to Navy guest house for overstaying.
Mr Modi will have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the ENC area only on Feb. 6 and will leave for Bhubaneswar on the same day night. He will be back to Vizag on Feb. 7 evening to visit International City Parade of IFR. Before flying back to Delhi at 10 pm, Mr Modi will join the presidential banquet at a star hotel on the Beach Road.
The district administration has appointed two revenue officers, one food inspector, medical officer and naval personnel to look into dietary needs of the President and PM.
prime minister. Sources said that it will be all vegetarian spread based traditional flavours in keeping with the Modi’s dietary preference as Modi prefers simple vegetarian food. For President, the menu includes fish, Galouti kebab.
Navy set to serve best hospitality to delegates
It seems evident that the Indian Navy is in no mood to leave no stone unturned to make the International Fleet Review (IFR) a huge success.
To mete out the best of class services to the foreign navy delegates, who disembark ashore for the IFR, the Indian Navy set up a Hospitality Centre at the Slipway Jetty of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) near the RK Beach area.
The centre is equipped with a host of premier services right from immigration centre, foreign exchange centres and souvenir centre to satellite televisions, sea-facing food joints, ATMs and telecommunication shoppe.
After the guests land at the Hospitality Centres from the Navy ships, they receive the required services at the Hospitality Centre before embarking on their itinerary. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Thotapalli Ramesh, a representative of the hospitality centre, informed that they readied about 100 AC buses and 250 AC cars to ferry the delegates to the IFR venues as well as other city destinations. “The informative kiosks set up at the Hospitality Centre enables the guests to access the IFR website and help in planning about the events and wayfinding.”
