Varanasi turns into fortress for PM visit

Varanasi, Sept 22: The temple city Varanasi has turned into a virtual fortress ahead of two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Parliamentary constituency, beginning today. Around 8,000 security personnel of para-military force, police, SPG and others have been deployed for the PM's security. ADG (Security) Vijay Kumar will himself look after all the security arrangements and several IG level officers apart from about 30 IPS rank officers will be deployed. Apart from keeping close watch on security arrangements by ADG (Varanasi Zone) Biswajeet Mahapatra, two DIGs, 26 SSPs/SPs, 35 ASPs, 48 DSPs, 700 SIs, 450 head constables, 2600 constables, 17 companies of PAC and 16 companies of para-military forces. According to official sources here today, Mr Modi will land at Babatpur Airport around 1445 hrs and from there, he would to go the Police Lines by helicopter and then visit Trade Facilitation Centre at Bada Lalpur by car at 1530 hrs and launch second phase of development work there. He will also attend the programme of union textiles ministry there and flag off from Varanasi-Vadodara Mahamana Express. Besides, a water ambulance which has already arrived here would also be launched and it would be looked after by NDRF. The PM will leave Trade Facilitation Centre at 1650 hrs for the Police Lines and by helicopter, he will go to DLW Helipad and from there reach DLW Guest House at 1730 hrs. Later, he would meet some party leaders there and at 1845 hrs, he will go to Tulsi Manas Mandir by car and at 1920 hrs, he will release postal stamp on Ramayana and then go to Durga Kund and offer prayer there. At 2005 hrs, he will leave Durga Kund for DLW guest house. Tomorrow at 0905 hrs, he will go to Araji Line located Animal Husbandry area helipad and then at 0945 hrs, he will go to Shah Shahpur by car and then launch cleanliness drive in a slum locality there. He will also distribute certificates to some beneficiaries of farmer loan waiver and housing schemes at a function. Later, he will reach Babatpur Airport by helicopter and leave for Delhi by special place at 1210 hrs. During his two main meetings, Mr Modi will also launch/inaugurate various projects, including bridges of river Ganga at Samne Ghat and Balua Ghat through remote control apart from power sub-stations at Kazzakpura and Garthauli, Utkarsh Bank headquarters, Malviya Ethics Centre in BHU, Animal Husbandry department at Araji Line, 30-bed Maternity Wing at Community Health centre at Araji Line, construction of barrack for 80 people at Cholapur police station, decentralized waste to energy at Pahadia STP, Buddha Theme Park at Sarnath, beautification of Sarang Nath Mandir, Laxmi Kund and Durga Kund, development of Gurudham temple, Markandey Mahadev at Kaithi and Ganga ghat at Kaithi also. UNI