Punjab Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar Sinha has shared key details about the security and traffic arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jalandhar on July 17, urging people to avoid unnecessary travel on National Highway-44 during the peak movement hours.
Speaking about the preparations, Special DGP Sinha said the Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Jalandhar at around 3:40 pm and will remain in the city for approximately one-and-a-half hours and according to him, the Prime Minister will visit Jalandhar Cantt Railway Station, where he will dedicate the newly redeveloped railway station to the public, along with this the Prime Minister will also virtually inaugurate 74 other redeveloped railway stations across the country.
The Punjab Police has advised commuters to avoid travelling on NH-44, especially the stretch connecting Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Pathankot, between 2 pm and 5:30 pm on July 17 and Special DGP Sinha said the event venue is located close to the main highway, making temporary traffic diversions necessary for security reasons.
He appealed to the public to either change their travel timings, complete their journey before the restricted hours or postpone non-essential travel to another day, if possible, however, he clarified that while some inconvenience is expected, the police do not intend to stop public movement completely.
Instead, commuters travelling during the restricted period will be diverted through alternate routes. Police personnel deployed on the ground will guide motorists and help them reach their destinations through these alternate roads, he also said the department is trying to keep the closure of roads for the shortest possible duration.
Special DGP Sinha said that while security remains the top priority during the Prime Minister's visit, the Punjab Police is equally focused on reducing inconvenience to the public and said every security arrangement is planned keeping both objectives in mind, according to him, efforts are being made to ensure smooth movement by providing alternate routes instead of completely blocking access. He also mentioned that the police will soon issue a detailed press briefing regarding the traffic diversion plan.
The Special DGP said that since the function is being held at the railway station, there could also be some impact on railway operations, however, he added that the railway authorities are working to minimise inconvenience to passengers as much as possible. People planning to travel by train on July 17 have been advised to stay updated with official announcements from the railway authorities.
When asked whether any other senior political leaders or dignitaries would accompany the Prime Minister, Special DGP Sinha said that since the event is related to the Railways, senior officials from the railway department are expected to be present however, he said no official information has yet been received regarding the attendance of other prominent leaders.