Bhubaneswar: President Ram Nath Kovind is unlikely to stay at Raj Bhawan in Puri during his two-day visit to Odisha from February 19.
“Arrangements are being made for his stay at a private hotel in Puri with sufficient accommodation. This decision was taken as there are not enough rooms at Raj Bhawan to accommodate the people accompanying the President and also from their safety and security point of view,” district collector Samarth Verma told mediapersons on Thursday.
He added that Puri is ready to welcome the First Citizen of the country.
The President is slated to arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 2.45 pm on February 19. After 10 minutes, he would proceed to Puri and have darshan of the sibling deities at Jagannath Temple at 5 pm. He would spend 45 minutes in the 12th-century shrine.
The following day, the President will inaugurate the three-year celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Srimad Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the founder of Goudiya Mission. The President will also visit Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Mutt at 10.30 am and then take a flight back to Delhi the same day.
This is the third visit of President Kovind to the Pilgrimage Town so far.
Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh had earlier said arrangements have been made, according to the protocols and guidelines, for the smooth visit of the President. “Around 40 platoons of police force with 200 officers will be deployed at different places and venues in Puri. We are making all necessary arrangements so that the public and devotees will not face any inconvenience during the visit,” he said.
