The entire government machinery has geared up to give final touches to the Rajiv Gandhi Women and Child Hospital at Ellaipillaichavady ahead of the scheduled inauguration of the building on Saturday by chairperson of the National Advisory Council Sonia Gandhi.
On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh, Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, Home Minister E. Valsaraj, along with his Cabinet colleagues, inspected the arrangements being made for the inaugural function. Mr. Vaithilingam, who was discharged from a private hospital in Chennai where he was recuperating after a surgery for a fracture in the femur, visited the venue.
H was taken around the hospital premises on a wheelchair to get a firsthand account of the preparations being made.
As per reports, Ms. Gandhi would land at the Puducherry airport around noon and proceed to the venue. Besides dedicating the Women and Child Hospital, she would also formally inaugurate the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College at Thattanchavady
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad would also attend the function, Mr. Valsaraj, who also holds the health portfolio, told The Hindu .
Security
The territorial police have beefed up security in the entire Puducherry region. Hundreds of policemen would be deployed on the day to provide security cover the VIPs. Already, a team from the Special Protection Group has arrived here to coordinate security arrangements.
The venue would be taken over by the SPG on Thursday, a senior police officer told The Hindu .
Traffic diversion
At the time of movement of VIPs from the airport to the venue, traffic would be diverted on Tindivanam-New Bus Stand and ECR-New Bus Stand routes. Vehicles from Tindivanam to the town would be diverted towards the Villianur road from JIPMER.
Similarly, vehicles from Chennai to the town area would be diverted to Ginjee Salai from Ajantha Theatre junction.
The stretch between Indira Gandhi statue to Rajiv Gandhi statue would be a no-vehicle zone during the time of the function, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) G. P. Palanivel said.
