New Delhi. Multi-level security arrangements have been made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Samba district of Jammu on Sunday, 24 April. Security has been beefed up with traffic restrictions following Friday’s terror attack in Jammu city, in which two terrorists were killed and a CISF officer was martyred. Despite the attack, residents of Palli village are unfazed and happy about Modi’s visit. Locals are eagerly waiting for the VVIP tour. The village elders cannot remember when was the last time they had seen so much happiness and bustle. Over 100 hotels, including luxury hotels in Jammu, Bari Brahmana and Samba, have been booked for the stay of the delegates attending the two-day Panchayat Raj Day on Sunday.
During his visit to J&K, PM will inaugurate the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3100 crores. The 8.45 Km long tunnel would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hour: PMO pic.twitter.com/O5q1yYMvjx
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Representatives include government, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Block Development Councils, District Development Councils as well as senior politicians. In order to make the area under the Palli Panchayat ‘the country’s first carbon free zone’, a 500 KVA capacity solar power project has been set up to provide electricity to 340 households. It is estimated that more than one lakh people will attend the ceremony.
Along with this, PM Modi will inaugurate the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel built at a cost of more than Rs 3100 crore. This tunnel is 8.45 km long. Apart from this, the foundation stone of 850 MW Ratle and 540 MW Kwar Hydro Project will also be laid.
A high alert has been sounded along the International Border, while tight security has been beefed up in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu as well. Security has been beefed up around important installations in Jammu and Kashmir, while security exercises like landing of helicopters and speeding of vehicles have been carried out at the venue.
In this regard, the traffic advisory said, “In view of the VVIP Yatra at Palli Bari Brahmana (Celebration Venue) Samba district on April 24, 2022, the public attending the ceremony, PRIs are advised to adopt the specified routes.” Security posts connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab have been strengthened with additional deployment of security forces and no one is allowed to enter without checking.