Tight Security For ASR Airport Inauguration Today; Restrictions in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Over 5,000 security personnel, including elite those of anti-Naxal force Greyhounds and anti-terror unit Octopus, will be deployed for the inauguration of Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) International Airport on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu being among those participating in the event.

Inspector general of police Gopinath Jetti, along with the SPs of Anakapalli, Srikakulam, and Vizianagaram districts, inspected the venues to be visited by the Prime Minister.

APSRTC is planning to operate around 2,000 buses to ferry attendees, particularly leaders and cadres of the TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP, from districts ranging from Nellore to Srikakulam. Officials said the number of buses would be as per the demand.

IT and Education minister Nara Lokesh has had a series of meetings with ministers and officials over the public meeting that will follow the inauguration of the international airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district.

Visakhapatnam police commissioner Dr. Shankabrata Bagchi said special bus routes have been earmarked for people arriving from various districts and assembly constituencies. Buses from Anakapalli district will travel via the Express Flyover, PSL Junction, Anandapuram and Rajapulova, while separate designated routes have been notified for commuters from Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam East, North, South, and West, Gajuwaka, and Pendurthi.

Police have advised the public to avoid non-essential travel in Visakhapatnam city between 5 am and 10 am and again from 2 pm to 8 pm on Saturday to minimise traffic congestion.

There will be traffic restrictions on heavy and goods vehicles. Trucks approaching from Anakapalli will not be allowed to enter Visakhapatnam city from Lankelapalem between 5 am and 8 pm. Similar restrictions will apply to heavy vehicles arriving from the Srikakulam and Vizianagaram sides during the same period.