Agartala: Tripura is all set to welcome President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday in his two days maiden visit where he is scheduled to attend four programs in three towns. Besides, Agartala – southern town Udaipur and Jirania, eastern town of Agartala have got a facelift ahead of Mr Mukherjee’s visit.
All the streets got a new look, important buildings illuminated and unmanaged pedestrian strips built and coloured to welcome the President.
While Agartala Municipal Council spent Rs 50 Lakh for renovation, repairing and decoration of the city, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala and Jirania sub-divisional administration spent more than a crore of rupees and Udaipur sub-divisional administration and ONGC Thermal Power Company spent Rs 1.5 Cr to reshape the city as well as smoothing the travel of President.
Indian Air Force (IAF) brought two small choppers stand by at Agartala Airport, which will be used exclusively air surveillance against any subversive attempt during Mukherjee’s stay in Agartala.
IAF special aircraft, which will bring President and 80, accompanies including his daughter Sharmista Mukherjee, journalists and officials had landed Tuesday at Agartala airport for an hour and pilot inspected entire arrangement and position of the airport.
Hundreds of men in uniform had been deployed besides National Security Guard personnel across the cities from Tuesday night.
Security of Raj Bhawan, Tripura University, NIT and all other vital installations of the state has been beefed up ahead of president’s visit.
Mukherjee has scheduled to arrive here on IAF aircraft at 1320 hours where he will formally be received by Governor Devanand Konwar, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and his cabinet colleagues.
He will receive guard of honour from Tripura police and 20 school students were selected and trained under experts to facilitate the ceremonial reception of President at airport.
After having lunch at Raj Bhawan he is scheduled to attend 10th convocation of Tripura University and deliver convocation speech and at evening he will be accorded civic reception at Town Hall by Agartala city administration.
On next day, he will dedicate first unit of northeast’s biggest 726 MW capacity gas based combine cycle power project to the nation in a ceremonial inauguration followed by 5th convocation of NIT.
He is scheduled to leave the state at afternoon on June 21 next. (UNI)