Bhubaneswar: A high-level state preparatory meeting was held today at Lok Seva Bhavan, chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, to finalize arrangements for President Droupadi Murmu’s upcoming visit to Odisha on March 24 and 25. Officials from various departments and district administrations participated in the meeting to ensure seamless coordination for the visit.
According to an official statement, President Murmu will depart from Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, at 12:30 PM on March 24 and is scheduled to arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 1:30 PM. From there, she will board a private helicopter to the helipad near the Kantilo Nilamadhab Temple in Nayagarh before proceeding to a guest house for a brief rest.
At 3:05 PM, the President will visit the Nilamadhab Temple to offer prayers. Following this, she will attend the foundation day celebrations of the Bharatiya Vishwas Samaj Foundation at Kaliapalli in Nayagarh at 3:35 PM as the Chief Guest. She will then return to Bhubaneswar in the evening and stay overnight at Raj Bhavan. On the morning of March 25, she will depart for New Delhi via an Air India flight.
During the preparatory meeting, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja directed officials to ensure all necessary arrangements are in place, particularly focusing on security, traffic management, and logistical support. Special attention is being given to arrangements at the Nilamadhab Temple and the event venue in Kaliapalli, where both the Governor and Chief Minister are also expected to be present.
The discussions covered barricading the event venue, road repairs, and the establishment of a temporary helipad to facilitate smooth movement. A dedicated control room will be set up by the Home Department to oversee security and logistics throughout the visit.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrat Sahu, DGP Y.B. Khurania, Fire Services DG Dr. Sudhanshu Sadangi, Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, and senior police officials. District Collectors and Security Officers from Khurda and Nayagarh joined via video conferencing and provided updates on the preparations.
