The stage is set for the 67th Independence Day celebrations at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds here.
The city police have put in place elaborate security arrangements to ensure that celebrations are held without a hitch. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan, who is also chairman of the Independence Day Celebrations Committee, said preparations by the civic body, city police and the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban) began around 25 days ago.
Rehearsals have been held for the past four days. As many as 56 contingents, including those from the police, Bharat Scouts and Guides, National Cadet Corps, Home Guards and Seva Dal, will take part in the march past and receive guard of honour from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This will be followed by cultural programmes by schoolchildren.
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Around 2,600 schoolchildren will participate in the celebrations.
Mr. Lakshminarayan said that disaster management cells have been set up. There will be 20 ambulances on site with 50 doctors, 40 nurses and 10 pharmacists. Around 120 beds have been reserved in 28 hospitals.
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Kamal Pant, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said 1,200 police personnel, including two additional commissioners of police, three joint commissioners of police and nine deputy commissioners of police, would be on duty. Forty CCTV cameras have been installed around the parade grounds.
Mr. Pant urged all those attending to come at least an hour early and cooperate with the police security check. No helmets, bags, umbrellas and crackers would be allowed inside the grounds.
Pass-holders should carry identity cards.
In a release, City Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar added that the use of mobile phones, cameras, radios and other electronic gadgets were also banned in the grounds. He urged invitees to be seated before 8. 30 a.m., half an hour before the start of the programme.
Seating and entry
A total of 12,000 seats will be available at the grounds. This is 2,000 more than last time.
As many as 2,000 seats have been reserved for VVIPs and Defence personnel (entry from gate 1), 2,000 for dignitaries and government officials (entry from gates 2 and 3), 3,500 for freedom fighters, retired Defence personnel, BSF personnel (entry from gates 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) and 4,000 for the general public (entry from gates 9 and 10).