Bhubaneswar: Hectic preparations are underway amid elaborate security arrangements for President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the Odisha Assembly on Thursday.
Ahead of the President’s visit to the Assembly building, the entire complex has been spruced up, chambers refurbished, and a four-tier security cover with heavy deployment of police force to ensure foolproof protection.
Describing the occasion as momentous, Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy said that Murmu spent a significant part of her political career in the legislature as an MLA and minister. Her visit to address the House as the President is truly historic, she said.
Officials said Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati is also slated to attend the session. Odisha MPs and eminent personalities from different walks of life will also be present.
In view of the visit of the Head of State, security has been tightened across the city. While 33 platoons of police will guard the Assembly complex during the entire winter session starting November 27 to December 31, an additional 25 platoons will secure the route from the airport to the Assembly. An anti-terror squad will also be deployed, said Commissioner of Police S Dev Dutta Singh.
All security measures have been reviewed and the Commissionerate Police is fully prepared for the President of India’s visit and the Assembly session, Singh said.
The President is scheduled to arrive in Bhubaneswar aboard a special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft around 2 pm. She is scheduled to inaugurate the newly-constructed Kalinga Atithi Niwas inside Raj Bhavan, designed for VVIP guests. She will stay overnight there.
Official sources said that President’s address to the Assembly is planned from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm. A special dinner will be hosted by the Governor in her honour. She will depart for New Delhi the next morning.
Murmu’s visit carries a personal touch—she served as an MLA from 2000 to 2009 and held ministerial portfolios, including commerce & transport (2000–2002) and fisheries & animal resources development (2002–2004). In November 2022, the President addressed the Mizoram Assembly.
As per the schedule for the winter session of the Assembly, the First Supplementary Statement of Expenditure (Budget) for the 2025–26 financial year will be presented in the House on November 28.
