Chennai: With less two days to go for the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the temple town of Mahabalipuram has become an impregnable fortress of sorts. The beachside town is expected to be partially shut down to public on all three days of the high-level bilateral meet and all routes leading to the town - air, water and road - have come under intense security cover.
The entry of vehicles into Mahabalipuram has already been suspended in view of the summit.
Even all kinds of public transportation have been denied entry into the town with passengers wishing to visit Mahabalipuram having to commute a distance of one and a half kilometres (from bus stops along ECR) by walk. A statement from the city police on Wednesday informed that restrictions will be placed on all consignment movements in the town.
"All material movements including water tankers will be closed on October 11 from 11 am till 3 pm on October 12", read the statement. However, emergency movement will be allowed after thorough checking between 11 pm on October 11 and 5 am on October 12.
Local residents too have begun stocking up groceries, vegetables and medicines, fearing that shops would be asked to shut down on the summit days.
