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Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 16: To facilitate President's visit to the city on June 18, a room in the inspection bungalow here has been thoroughly renovated with new furniture and fittings by converting it into a modern suite. Reportedly an amount of Rs 35 lac has been spent for this renovation. One among the eight rooms in the building has been reserved for the President and it has been equipped with modern facilities.

Other rooms in the bungalow have also undergone renovation work to suit the needs of Rashtrapati Bhavan officials who will be accompanying the President.

As the President will be taking part in a programme at Srikrishna Math, shops around the Math, all along car street and shops near Vidyodaya school, Bannanje travellers bungalow and surroundings have been asked to close down the entire day on June 17 and again till 3 pm on June 18. This request was made by a release from the city municipal commissioner.

On this occasion, the weekly market being held at Kallianpur Santhekatte on every Sunday stands cancelled this week in view of security concerns, by the deputy commissioner of the district as the President will be moving through Kallianpur during his visit to Kollur. The municipal commissioner has sought cooperation from the general public.

The first citizen of India will be visiting Goddess Mookambika temple at Kollur after his programme in the city. He will undertake return journey after offering Sarvalankara Puja to the presiding deity of the temple.

All arrangements are being made near Kollur for the President's visit. As it is mandatory to have three helipads during Presidential visit, two more helipads are being added to the current helipad at Areshirur Pare near Byndoor. Works on new helipads are almost complete. PWD engineer, Chandrashekhar, has been supervising the construction of the helipads being built in association with IRB company. The President will be travelling by road from the city to Kollur, and as such, the work of clearing and repairing of the state and national highways on this route is going on at full scale in spite of rain to ensure that his travel is smooth and comfortable.

The car street around Kollur temple is also getting a face lift. Chief priest of the temple, Narasimha Adiga, will be performing the puja during the President's visit to temple. President Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled leave the city at 3 pm on June 18 and reach Kollur at 4.15 pm. At 4.45 pm he will leave the temple after puja, and fly to Mangaluru at 5.25 pm by a special Indian Air Force helicopter. From Mangaluru, he will leave by flight at 6.05 pm to New Delhi.

The entire itinerary of the President will be managed by commandos and personal officers. It is said that local journalists will be kept away during the President's visit. Kollur is gearing up to receive for the first time, the President of India, by offering a grand welcome.