Chennai, 26 February (HS): Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across Chennai, Puducherry and Madurai ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Tamil Nadu beginning February 28, as the State prepares to host a series of official and political engagements.
Police and central security agencies have coordinated multi-layered security measures in all three cities, with traffic diversions, restricted movement in select zones and venue sanitisation underway. Senior officials said arrangements are being reviewed at regular intervals to ensure smooth conduct of programmes.
According to party sources, the Prime Minister will arrive in Chennai on Saturday evening and proceed to Raj Bhavan for an overnight stay after being received by party and government representatives.
On March 1, he will travel to Puducherry to attend a government function where development initiatives are expected to be highlighted. He will later address a public rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which party leaders describe as an important interaction with cadre and supporters in the Union Territory.
From Puducherry, the Prime Minister will proceed to Madurai. As part of the visit, he is expected to offer prayers at the Tirupparankundram Subramanya Swamy Temple, one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan and a major spiritual landmark in Tamil Nadu.
In Madurai, Modi will participate in the inauguration ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital and launch multiple development projects through video conferencing. Railway officials said he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several Southern Railway projects during a government function.
Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, renovated railway stations at Morappur, Bommidi, Pollachi, Karaikudi, Srivilliputhur, Cholavandan, Tiruvarur and Manapparai will be opened. New train services on routes including Tambaram–Mangaluru, Coimbatore–Dhanbad, Nagercoil–Charlapalli and Rameswaram–Mangaluru are also scheduled to be flagged off.
The Prime Minister will later address a public meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Madurai, with alliance leaders expected to participate.
The visit assumes significance in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the Assembly election cycle. Authorities said security deployment will remain heightened throughout the duration of the visit to ensure law and order.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
