Security beefed up ahead of Modi’s Jharkhand visit; airport, other projects on agenda
Security has been beefed up and elaborate arrangements have been done ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jharkhand’s Deoghar district on Tuesday (July 12), where he is slated to inaugurate a slew of projects including an airport.
Modi will also lay the foundation stones for various development initiatives and take part in an 11.5-km-long road show, a senior police officer told PTI.
During his visit to the state, Modi will also pay his respects at the Baba Baidyanath Dham Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country.
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The BJP’s Jharkhand unit said that on Monday, party workers and locals from across the district lighted earthen lamps to welcome the prime minister.
In a series of tweets, Modi also shared details of his itinerary.
“Will have the fortune of ‘darshan’ and worship at Baba Baidyanath Temple at the holy city of Deoghar just before the beginning of Shravan. On July 12, will get the opportunity of inaugurating the airport. This will make the journey for devotees easier and boost tourism in Jharkhand (sic),” he wrote.
“Baidyanath Dham Deoghar is one of the most sacred sites for us. It draws people from all over the world. During the programme tomorrow, some components of the development project at the temple will be inaugurated which would boost spiritual tourism,” he added.
An official release maintained that the prime minister will lay the foundation stones and inaugurate projects worth ₹16,000 crore in Jharkhand. The 657-acre airport, which will be dedicated to the people of the region on the occasion, has been built at a cost of ₹401 crore. Low-cost carrier IndiGo had last week announced that it would launch the Kolkata-Deoghar flight service on July 12. Modi had laid the foundation stone of Deoghar airport on May 25, 2018 along with that of AIIMS Deoghar.
Talking about the super-speciality hospital, he said, “In line with our commitment to providing top quality healthcare services, In-Patient Department and operation theatre services at AIIMS, Deoghar will be inaugurated.”
In line with our commitment to providing top quality healthcare services, In-Patient Department (IPD) and Operation Theatre services at AIIMS, Deoghar will be inaugurated. pic.twitter.com/Jzy8Pg4CLZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 11, 2022
In yet another tweet, Modi said, “At the programme in Deoghar tomorrow, many road, rail and infra works will also be launched or their foundation stones would be laid. These works will enhance commerce and connectivity. The local economy will also get a boost due to these works.”
Enthusiasm was palpable among BJP workers on Monday over the prime minister’s programme, with some of the saffron party leaders, including Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey, calling the 11.5-km-long road show a historic event. Posters and banners welcoming Modi have been put up in several parts of Deoghar.
According to the senior police officer, lakhs of people are expected to witness or take part in the road show on Tuesday, and measures are being taken in the region to ensure that the programme passes off smoothly. Drones will be deployed to monitor the entire road show, the officer stated.
Deputy Commissioner, Deoghar, Majunath Bhajantri, urged devotees to visit the Baidyanath Dham only after 3.30 pm on Tuesday to avoid any inconvenience caused due to the security arrangements. He also said that people from far and wide had been arriving in Deoghar to participate in the ‘Shravan mela’, which is set to commence on July 14, and arrangements have been made for their safety, too.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had on Sunday held a high-level meeting with senior officials and police officers to take stock of the preparations and security arrangements ahead of the prime minister’s visit.
(With inputs from agencies)
