The city will come under a security blanket with 1,500 police officers being deployed to ensure fool-proof security during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday and Sunday.
All police officials who are part of the security detail will be briefed at a meeting on Friday and a full rehearsal of the security arrangements will be carried out on Friday. A review of the security procedures was also held on Wednesday.
Traffic restrictions will be put in place in various parts of the city on both days. On Saturday afternoon, Dr. Singh will dedicate the LNG terminal at Puthuvype to the country. Traffic from the hotel at Willingdon Island where the Prime Minister will stay to the Mattancherry Wharf, Bristow Road up to Vathuruthy, Naval Base, Thevara junction will be restricted from noon to 6 p.m. From 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m., traffic will be restricted from Container Road junction to the LNG terminal, and Goshree Road. Parking will not be allowed on or near Indira Gandhi Road leading to the Mattancherry wharf, Bristow Road, Goshree Road, and the route from Kalamukku junction to the LNG terminal.
On Sunday, Dr. Singh is expected to attend a felicitation for former Meghalaya governor M.M. Jacob, to be held at St. Teresa’s College. He will also take part in a function at Marine Drive the same day. Traffic restrictions will be imposed on the route from Willingdon Island to Mattancherry Wharf, Bristow Road, Naval Base, Thevara junction, Pallimukku, Jos junction, BTH, Menaka, High Court junction, from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Parking will be prohibited on these roads and adjoining side roads. The City Police Commissioner said that vehicles taking people to the function at St. Teresa’s College will not be allowed to enter through the college’s main gate. People can enter the college compound via the entrances on Convent junction or Press Club Road. Vehicles can be parked along the stretch from Convent junction to the Post Office junction or on St. Albert’s school ground.
Those arriving for the function at Marine Drive have been asked to enter through the North gate of the ground. Vehicles can be parked on the left side of the road from CMFRI to Chathiath church.
