Security up ahead of Canadian PM’s visit

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 20

In the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to the city, the Amritsar police have made strict security arrangements on the route from the airport to the Golden Temple. The police today conducted the final rehearsal for their arrangements.

Though police officials had said the commuters would not suffer as traffic would be blocked for only a few minutes on the route from the airport to the Golden Temple, residents faced problems for more than an hour during the final rehearsal.

As the police barricaded several streets and roads around the Golden Temple, the traffic movement is expected to cripple in the walled city tomorrow.

During the final rehearsal, the police blocked several roads and streets which affected traffic in the walled city. Though Canadian officials urged the SGPC not to cause any inconvenience to devotees at the Golden Temple, it has also barricaded the Golden Temple Plaza.

Roop Singh, chief secretary, SGPC, reviewed the arrangements of the task force.

Meanwhile, senior police officials said they had not made any major traffic diversion and devotes would not face any problem.

Sarbajit Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said, “We will halt traffic for three to five minutes on various points from the airport to the Golden Temple. Streets around the Golden Temple have been barricaded, but it will not affect the devotees. Pedestrian can walk on Heritage Street and plaza.”

Irked over traffic diversions during the rehearsal, residents blamed the police for poor arrangements.

“When the Canadian Prime Minister asked the authorities to keep his visit low profile then why the police are harassing the common man. The police should not barricade the routes such as Bhandari Bridge,” said Harmeet Singh, a resident.