Modi to receive Hollande at Rock Garden

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 22

It’s official. After much confusion and uncertainty, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally receive French President Francois Hollande at Rock Garden in Sector 1 here on Sunday at 3 pm.

According to the official itinerary of both VVIPs, which was received by the Chandigarh Administration here this evening and a copy of which is available with Chandigarh Tribune, Hollande will land at the technical airport in Chandigarh on January 24 at 1 pm to begin his three-day state visit to India. The French President will be chief guest at the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on January 26.

After arriving in Chandigarh, Hollande will straightaway go by road to Hotel Taj in Sector 17 and after a brief stay there, he will go to the Capitol Complex in Sector 1 at 2.30 pm.

At 2.45 pm, Hollande will reach Rock Garden, where he will be received by Modi. After a joint visit to Rock Garden, both dignitaries will reach the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10. From there, Hollande and Modi will go to Hotel Taj, where they will interact with the Indo-French CEOs’ Forum and address the Indo-French Business Summit.

Hollande will leave Hotel Taj at 6 pm by road to the technical airport in Chandigarh, from where he will take off for New Delhi at 6.30 pm.

The itinerary of the Prime Minister says he will depart from the Delhi airport at 1.40 pm and arrive at the technical airport in Chandigarh at 2.30 pm. He will reach Rock Garden at 2.45 pm by road. After a joint visit with the foreign guest, Modi will reach Hotel Taj at 3.45 pm. The Prime Minister will remain at the hotel till 5.30 pm before leaving for the local technical airport, from where he will take off for New Delhi at 6 pm.