Heavy security arranged for Modi's Kolkata visit

While the visit has political connotations with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee deciding to attend programmes along with the PM and meeting him in a departure of her anti-Modi stance, the security for the visit has been a major concern for the police administration.

Special Additional and Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) Rajeeb Mishra told IBNS that after arriving in Kolkata, Modi would be under the security cover of the Kolkata Police as well as the Special Protection Group (SPG).

"We will deploy 15000 cops to provide security to the Prime Minister and also to maintain city's traffic. But in some areas, traffic may be diverted for security reasons," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport on Saturday at 5 pm. He will be flown to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) helipad in the heart of the city in a helicopter.

After landing, his convoy will head for Nazrul Mancha in south Kolkata where he will launch three social security schemes- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also be present there.

Then Narendra Modi will visit Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan hospital to meet the ailing 97-year-old head of Ramkrishna Math and Mission, Swami Atmasthanand Maharaj.

After meeting him, Narendra Modi will reach  the Raj Bhavan for the night stay. The chief minister will meet him at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday night.

Mishra said they would deploy 500 policemen for Tagore birth anniversary programme at Cathedral Road in central Kolkata where chief minister Mamata Banerjee would be present too.

The Kolkata Police have another concern- the IPL match at Eden Gardens between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Saturday.

Mishra said that when the match would come to an end and people would leave the stadium, PM Modi would come to Raj Bhavan which is located near the stadium.

"We will deploy 5000 cops at Eden Gardens and the home-bound spectators may be stopped by us until Modi's convoy passes through the area," he told IBNS.

Modi will leave the Raj Bhavan on Sunday morning. After visiting Dakhsineswar temple and Belur Math he will reach  Burnpur in Burdwan district where the new plant of IISCO will be inaugurated by him.

Modi will address a public meeting in Asansol.

After that he will leave West Bengal by taking flight from Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal in Burdwan.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Image by Sounak Choudhury/IBNS)