Kolkata, May 8 : Elaborate security and traffic arrangements have been put in place across Kolkata ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the newly formed West Bengal government at the Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah.
The oath-taking ceremony, scheduled on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary on 25 Baisakh, will mark the swearing-in of West Bengal’s first BJP chief minister at the historic Brigade Parade Ground.
In view of the high-profile event, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda on Friday issued a notification announcing extensive traffic restrictions and parking regulations in several parts of central Kolkata.
According to the advisory, vehicular movement would be regulated on important stretches including Esplanade Ramp, K P Road, Hospital Road, Lovers Lane, Casuarina Avenue and Queensway, depending on the traffic situation and security requirements during the day.
The city police also announced that movement of goods vehicles would remain suspended from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. However, vehicles carrying essential commodities and emergency supplies have been exempted from the restrictions. These include LPG cylinder carriers, CNG and petroleum tankers, vehicles transporting oil and lubricants, oxygen cylinders, vegetables, medicines, fish, fruits and milk.
Parking restrictions would also remain in force in several areas surrounding the venue and adjoining roads. Vehicles would not be allowed to park along stretches near Victoria Memorial, including parts of AJC Bose Road up to Hastings Crossing, Cathedral Road, Khidirpur Road, Hospital Road, Queensway and Lovers Lane.
Police sources said additional traffic diversions and crowd-control measures could be imposed depending on the situation on Saturday.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Saturday morning to attend the swearing-in ceremony. According to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, he is expected to leave Delhi airport around 8.05 a.m. aboard an Indian Air Force B-777 aircraft for Kolkata. During the recently concluded election campaign, Modi had stated at a public rally that he would return to Bengal after 4 May to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new chief minister. Saturday’s visit will fulfil that announcement.Senior BJP leaders, chief ministers from BJP-ruled states and several union ministers are also expected to attend the ceremony. (UNI)
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