Vizag turns fortress ahead of PM's visit

Visakhapatnam: The City of Destiny has been turned into a fortress ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on November 11 and 12 to take part in laying the foundation stone-inauguration-dedication to the nation of several centrally-funded projects worth Rs 15,233 crore.

A large number of central police forces and commandos are being deployed all around the route of the PM's convoy. The State police is maintaining a high vigil by mobilising additional forces. The pavement shops near the university campus were demolished leading to condemnation by TDP and Left party leaders. Modi will reach here on November 11 evening from Madurai and proceed to the Naval Base to spend the night. Next morning, he will take part in various programmes at Andhra University Engineering College grounds and address a huge public meeting.

Several protesters were arrested on Wednesday when they tried to take out a motor bike rally from DRM's office to GVMV Gandhi statue to urge the Prime Minister to announce withdrawal of the decision to privatise Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited-the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

The protesters were stopped at Kurmannapalem gate when they wanted to come on their bikes. Later they decided to come by foot to participate in the protest in the city. However, the police detained them at Pata Gajuwaka junction saying due to the prohibitory orders clamped on the eve of VVIP visit, no protests or rallies will be allowed.

A call for three-day protest was earlier made by Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee (VUPPC), which is spearheading the anti-privatisation agitation for over 600 days. Committee chairman and AITUC national vice-president D Adinarayana, Mantri Rajasekhar (INTUC) and co-convenor J Ayodhyaram were among those arrested by the police. Forum for Development of North Andhra general secretary A Aja Sarma and CPI (M) leader V Srinivasa Rao requested the PM to make specific announcement on implementation of promises made at the time of bifurcation during his visit to Visakhapatnam.

A schedule circulated by the BJP on Wednesday confirmed that Modi will not lay the stone for South Coast Railway. However, the programme sheet included inauguration-dedication to the nation of two more projects in his itinerary viz construction of grassroot POL depot at Guntakal (IOCL) worth Rs 385 crore and doubling and electrification of Vijayawada-Gudivada-Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu, Gudivada-Machilipatnam and Bhimavaram- Narasapuram (221 km) envisaging an investment of Rs 4,106 crore.