Nitin Jain
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 16
Rock Garden, archaeological sites, museum and sites related to famous French architect Le Corbusier are on the itinerary of French President Francois Hollande when he visits Chandigarh on January 24, a top government functionary told The Tribune, on Saturday.
According to the tentative tour programme of the foreign guest, Hollande will land directly at the Chandigarh airport to begin his India visit during which he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the French President, who, after landing here, will directly move to Hotel Taj in Sector 17 for presiding over the CEOs Forum.
Next on his tour programme are visits to the Rock Garden, an archaeological site or museum and sites related to Le Corbusier, the officer disclosed.
Hollande, as per his schedule so far, will leave Chandigarh for the national capital on the same day.
Whether Modi will receive Hollande at the Chandigarh airport or at Hotel Taj or whether he will accompany the foreign dignitary throughout his Chandigarh visit or fly back after fulfilling the protocol custom of receiving the French
President is yet to be decided, the sources in the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) said.
“The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Chandigarh visit is confirmed but his itinerary is being finalised,” a senior officer at the Prime Minister’s Office said, while adding that it will be decided by Monday.
French President Hollande had expressed his desire to visit Chandigarh, one of the few planned cities in the country, designed by famous French architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s and 1960s.
The French Ambassador to India and an advance team of senor officers of the French Government had recently visited the city in preparation for the President’s visit proposed visit.
Meanwhile, the preparations are in full swing and security arrangements are being worked out for the French President and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, the UT Administration is yet to receive an official confirmation of Modi’s visit. “We are still awaiting a formal communication,” UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev told The Tribune.
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