Countdown begins for Manmohan’s visit to Thirumayam

FOR SAFE LANDING: Helipad being readied near the BHEL Thirumayam unit for the Prime Minister’s visit on August 2. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

With four days left for the visit of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Thirumayam, tight security arrangements are being made.

Mr. Singh will dedicate to the nation the multi-crore power plant piping unit of the public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) on August 2 at Thirumayam. The BHEL has invested Rs. 350 crore for the new plant: Rs.100 crore for civil work, and Rs. 250 crore for the machinery.

Helipads are being prepared on a sprawling site adjacent to the unit. Mr. Singh will arrive in Tiruchi by a special aircraft from New Delhi on August 2 morning and leave for Thirumayam by a helicopter. The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Delhi on August 2 afternoon.

Three helipads are being built on the vacant site, which have been brought under the security cover with anti-sabotage teams deployed at the spot in addition to police guards to keep a round-the-clock vigil.

The vacant site has been fenced to keep intruders at bay. A comprehensive security plan is being prepared by the Pudukottai police on the occasion. The Prime Minister is guarded by the elite Special Protection Group (SPG).

In addition to Pudukottai district police, personnel would be drawn from eight central zone districts to tighten the security. Over 1,000 police personnel would be deployed in and around the plant, sources in the police said. A huge pandal is being erected inside the plant for the inaugural function. A special police control room has been set up on the premises and combing operations being carried out in the surrounding areas.

An SPG team will arrive in Pudukottai on Monday to inspect the security-related arrangements and hold a meeting with the district police authorities. An elaborate security plan will be finalised in the next couple of days to enable deployment of forces.

Tiruchi city police have prepared a separate security scheme for the airport as the Prime Minister is scheduled to have a brief stop-over at the airport before leaving for Thirumayam by a helicopter. Security at the airport will be monitored by the Commissioner of Police.

A high-level coordination meeting was convened in Chennai recently to discuss the VVIP’s visit to Thirumayam. Top government nd police officials attended the meeting.