The stage is set for the 75th Independence Day celebrations at Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru on August 15. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said that a hundred COVID-19 warriors, including healthcare professionals, frontline workers and 25 persons who have recovered from the infectious disease, will participate in the celebrations as special invitees.
A total of 1,000 seats have been earmarked for VVIPs, VIPs and special invitees. There will be no cultural programme. All invitees have to wear masks and comply with social distancing norms. The celebrations will be held in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Centre.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be received by senior officials of the three wings of the armed forces at 8.55 a.m., following which he will hoist the national flag at 9 a.m. He will receive a guard of honour from 10 battalions comprising 470 personnel from Karnataka State Reserve Police, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, City Armed Reserve, Karnataka State Industrial Security Force, traffic police, women police, home guards, traffic wardens, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, and dog squad.
The entire event will be webcast live and also telecast on Doordarshan.
Mr. Gupta said, as part of security measures, 60 CCTV cameras and baggage scanners have been installed. Ambulances and fire tenders will be on standby in case of any emergency.
1,500 police personnel deployed
Police Commissioner Kamal Pant told reporters that 1,500 police personnel would be deployed, as well as 15 platoons of KSRP, 10 platoons of CAR and two commando teams. Anti-demonstration squads will be deployed in and around the ground.
Invitees will not be allowed to carry any belongings, including cigarettes, match boxes, pamphlets, knives, black clothes, food items, camera, liquor, water bottle, flags, or crackers.
Parking restrictions
As an additional security measure, vehicular movement will be prohibited from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. on Cubbon Road (between B.R.V. Junction and Kamaraj Road Junction). Traffic diversions will be in place during these two hours. Motorists can park their vehicles on Central Street (Anil Kumble Circle to Shivajinagar bus stand), Cubbon Road (CTO Junction to K.R. Road), or M.G. Road (Anil Kumble Circle to Queen’s Statue).
