International airport takes off today

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

Coming to the city for the first time after becoming the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new international terminal of the Chandigarh airport and hand over the keys to selective allottees of the Sector 63 housing scheme of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB).

In the city for over three hours, the Prime Minister will address the 34th convocation of the PGI. He will also address a political rally of the BJP at the Sector 25 rally ground, where a gathering of over 50,000 is expected. BJP leaders and their supporters from all over the region are expected to participate in the rally.

From the Sector 25 rally ground, the Prime Minister will electronically unveil the plaque of the General Self-Financing Housing Scheme, Sector 63, and hand over the keys and possession letters to 10 beneficiaries, four each from the EWS and LIG (one-bedroom) categories and one each from the two-bedroom and three-bedroom categories. He will also launch the mobile app services and the citizen-friendly website of the CHB.

The app, which is being launched almost three years after it was designed, will provide all services related to the CHB and will be regularly updated. The app and website portal will provide all e-services as well as ensure transparency in the working of the CHB.

Playing the perfect host

Playing the perfect host to the Prime Minister, the UT Administration has given a fresh lease of life to all roads and pavements through which the VVIP motorcade will pass. Till late at night, saplings were being panted at the Halloamjra light point that falls on the PM’s route. Several neglected stretches of roads have been given a new lease of life.

What’s on the platter for PM

There will be light refreshments such as tea and fruit juices at the three events being held at the airport, the PGI and the Sector 25 rally ground. The Prime Minister is, however, expected to have his meal on board his plane on way back to Delhi. It is learnt that the Prime Minister has been eating one meal a day while observing “chaturmas’ (four months in the Hindu lunar calendar when people take vows and fast). Sources said CITCO had been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the menu that includes coconut water, watermelon juice, hot milk, butter milk, curd, fruits, dishes of dal and paneer, zira rice and different varieties of chapatis.

Who all will be present on the dais

Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Punjab and Haryana Governor-cum-UT Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union Minister for Civil Aviation P Ashok Gajapathi Raju,  Union Minister Birender Singh, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla, Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria, Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher will be seated on the dais. 

PM’s itinerary

After landing at the airport at 9.25 am, the Prime Minister will attend a 20-minute inauguration ceremony of the international terminal. He will then proceed to the PGI for the convocation from 10.30 am to 11.30 am. He will reach the rally ground at 11.45 am. After attending the rally, which is expected to last an hour and a half, he will leave for the airport at 1.25 pm.

Modi tweets

Will visit Chandigarh on Friday, where I will inaugurate a housing scheme and a new civil air terminal and attend a convocation at the PGI.