Drone flights banned in Tiruvannamalai as Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives amid tight security
Tiruvannamalai, Aug 8 (IANS) Drone operations have been banned in and around key locations in Tiruvannamalai for two days as elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the temple town on Saturday.
HM Shah is beginning a two-day tour of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday. After completing his engagements in Maharashtra, he is scheduled to fly to Chennai and proceed by helicopter to Tiruvannamalai, where he is expected to arrive around 4.20 p.m.
From the helipad, the Home Minister will travel by road to the Sri Ramanasramam on Girivalam Road. He is expected to spend about an hour there and participate in special prayers before visiting the Arunachaleswarar Temple for darshan.
Shah is scheduled to leave Tiruvannamalai around 6 p.m. and travel by road to Puducherry for the next leg of his visit.
Ahead of his arrival, the Tiruvannamalai district administration and police have stepped up security across the town.
Helipads have been prepared at the Government Arts College grounds and near Unnamalai Amman Nagar along the Girivalam route.
On Friday, Central Reserve Police Force personnel and advance security officials conducted a helicopter landing rehearsal at the helipads as part of preparations for the high-profile visit.
Advance security officials from the Union Home Ministry also held a detailed review meeting with District Collector Vandana Garg and Superintendent of Police Udayakumar at the Collectorate.
Security arrangements were subsequently reviewed with officials from various departments. Security teams inspected the routes connecting the helipads, Sri Ramanasramam and Arunachaleswarar Temple. They also examined the route that Shah is expected to take while travelling from Tiruvannamalai to Puducherry.
Officials carried out separate inspections at the ashram and temple to assess arrangements ahead of the Home Minister’s arrival.
As part of the security measures, the district administration has prohibited the operation of drones, remotely controlled aircraft and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles around the helipads, venues and designated VIP routes on Saturday and Sunday.
Collector Vandana Garg said the restrictions were imposed to ensure public safety and provide comprehensive security to the Union Home Minister while preventing potential threats arising from the unauthorised use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
More than 1,000 police personnel have been deployed across Tiruvannamalai under a three-tier security arrangement for Shah’s visit.
—IANS
aal/rad