District administration makes elaborate preparations for president’s visit
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangalore, Dec 7: The organizers of the World Konkani Convention and the members of the Konkani-speaking communities are eagerly awaiting the visit of President Smt. Prathiba Patel on Dec 9, Thursday.
The stage on Nehru Maidan is currently under construction, and volunteers are busy with a wide range of activities such as seating arrangements, cleaning, and so on. The district administration, along with the police department as well as various other departments, is busy making all sorts of preparations to prevent errors during the president’s visit. DC Subodh Yadav, Mangalore Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, and Mandd Sobhann President Louis Pinto visited the venue well in advance to monitor the various arrangements.
President’s Schedule
Mangalore Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh informed reporters at a press conference held in his office on Dec 7, Monday that the DK police have made elaborate preparations for President Smt. Prathiba Patel’s visit to Mangalore on Dec 8 – 9. 
Revealing the president’s schedule, he said that she will land at Bajpe Airport on Dec 8 at 3:50 p.m. and interact with media persons for 10 minutes. At 4:00 p.m., she is scheduled to leave for Manipal by helicopter to preside over the convocation ceremony of Manipal University and confer 29 doctorates and 13 gold medals on the student achievers.
She will be back in Mangalore on Dec 9 at 9:30 a.m. to preside over the Konkani Ekta Divas, part of the 25-day World Konkani Cultural Convention, which is scheduled to be held on Nehru Maidan at 12:00 p.m. She will travel via Kavoor, Bondel, Mary Hill, KPT, Nanthoor, Shivabhag, St. Agnes, Balmatta, Dr. Ambedkar Circle, Hampankatta, and Clock Tower. After the programme, she will take rest at Hotel Gateway before leaving to Bajpe Airport.
Elaborate Preparations
The DK police have made elaborate traffic and security arrangements, according to which all traffic will come to a stand still from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Konkani Ekta Divas is expected to draw around 2000 delegates, and 3 entry gates will be provided for people with VIP, IVIP, and general passes.
A convoy of 30 vehicles, including district administration vehicles, will escort the president to the venue, he said. The president will be accompanied by Dr. Margaret Alva, the governor of Uttarakhand; Governor H. R. Bharadwaj; and CM B. S. Yeddyurappa.
Vehicle owners are strictly forbidden from parking on the sides of the roads and must park only on the Nehru Cricket ground. The chief minister of Goa is also expected to participate in the event, although it is not yet confirmed.