Chennai under police radar ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit

CHENNAI: The security restrictions put in place by police for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city on Saturday afternoon will make Marina beach and Kamarajar Salai out of bounds while traffic can slow down in Mylapore, Royapettah, Anna Salai and stretches of GST Road between 3pm and 6pm.
Those planning to travel out of the city may have to reach the airport and MGR Chennai Central railway station at least 2-3 hours in advance to avoid getting stuck in traffic as roads can be closed or traffic can be restricted for VVIP movement.

The Prime Minister will land at Chennai airport and will take a helicopter to INS Adyar and will proceed by road to MGR Chennai Central, Vivekanandar Illam on Kamarajar Salai and to the Alstom grounds in Pallavaram where he will inaugurate a slew of projects. The BJP workers will welcome him at different points along the route. The beach will be sealed off following threats by Congress workers to show black flags.
The entry of vehicles towards the service road from Kamarajar Salai and Loop Road beside the Light House will be restricted. During PM's visit at Vivekanandar Illam, incoming vehicles from the lighthouse will be diverted from the Gandhi statue to RK Salai. From here, vehicles can go to Natesan Road junction and proceed towards Ice House, Ratna cafe, Triplicane High Road-Walajah Road Junction to Labour statue or Anna Salai.
Outgoing vehicles from the war memorial will be diverted at the Labour statue to Walajah Road towards Anna Salai or at Triplicane High road-Walajah Road junction. If needed vehicles may be diverted from War Memorial to Flagstaff Road towards Anna Salai through Walajah Point. This diversion will be in place from 4 pm to 6 pm.
Police are planning to carry out intensive vehicle checks. All-terrain vehicles and mounted police personnel will patrol the beach to restrict the movement of people. Triplicane assistant commissioner of Police MS Baskar said, "We have advised the owners and managers of lodges and mansions to allow people to book rooms after thorough scrutiny. We have also roped in a team of fire and rescue personnel who will monitor Cooum River, underneath the Napier Bridge."
At least four police personnel have been posted in all the high-rise buildings on Kamarajar Salai to monitor the movement of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles apart from the suspicious movement of people on the ground.