The stage is set for the Republic Day celebrations to be held here at the usual venue, Field Marshal Maneckshaw Parade Grounds, on Thursday.
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda, chairperson of the R-Day Celebrations Committee, told presspersons here on Tuesday: “The celebrations will begin with the flag hoisting by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj at 9 a.m. while helicopters overhead will shower flowers.”
Mr. Bhardwaj will receive the guard of honour from the 50 teams, including police, Bharat Scouts and Guides, National Cadet Corps, Seva Dal. Some 1,500 schoolchildren will be participate in the march past, and over 2,100 in the cultural programmes that will follow.
One of the highlights will be para motor gliding by the Indian Air Force personnel.
Seating capacity
The police have made adequate bandobast arrangements. Seating capacity is ready for 10,000 people, including VVIPs and VIPs.
The committee has also brought out a disaster management compendium as part of the exercise. Three fire tenders will be at the spot.
Around 150 medical staff will be present onsite and 320 offsite at the various hospitals in the city. “There will be 20 ambulances onsite with 50 doctors, 40 nurses, 10 pharmacists, 40 drivers/assistants and 10 engineering gangmen. That apart, a mass casualty management with an eight-bed hospital vehicle will be at the spot.
“We have reserved 120 beds in 28 hospitals. Some doctors and 150 paramedics will be in a state of readiness. Twenty pharmacies and blood banks have also been identified,” he said.
CCTVs at grounds
City Police Commissioner Jyothi Prakash Mirji said adequate security arrangements have been made based on the intelligence reports. “We have installed closed circuit cameras around the Parade Grounds. Around 1,500 policemen, including 600 senior police officials, have been deputed for bandobast duty,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner (Urban) M.K. Ayyappa, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) T. Suneel Kumar, and Joint Commissioner of Police (City Armed Reserve) B.N.S. Reddy were present.
