Barack Obama's visit: UP police to hire chopper

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh police is all set to hire a helicopter to secure the air in view of the likely visit of US president Barack Obama to Agra later this month.

"The state government has authorised the police to hire Pawan Hans helicopter for the next 11 days to assist in the air security," IG (Law & Order) A Satish Ganesh said.

"IG, Meerut zone, has been made the nodal officer to work out the route and sorties by the helicopeter in view of the inputs with regard to the security," he said.

The helicopter would start making sorties soon, he said adding that an air support unit team is being developed.

Two rounds of talks at the DGP level were held to review security arrangements, and a demand for ten companies of RAF for Agra and the same number of CRPF for districts adjoning the NCR region has been made, he said.

The IG said that work on all dimensions of security for the foreign dignitary was being done.

To questions whether the Yamuna Expressway would be closed for traffic for security reasons, the IG said that no decision has been made but the state would cooperate as per the instructions from the protocol.

The IG said that in view of the Republic Day, all the districts have been issued necessary directives to implement the security scheme and take precautions.

An advance team of the US President's security service had visited the Taj Mahal on December 16, seeking information and placing its demands.

A 30 member-team is staying at hotel Mughal. The team members visited the Taj Mahal on Monday and discussed details with local police officials and interacted with ASI officials. They visited the monument again on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, CCTV cameras are being installed all along the route from the Kheria airport to the eastern gate of Taj Mahal, a distance of roughly 11 km.

Officials indicated that commandos will be posted along the street corners, on roof tops and crossings. Senior officials including half a dozen IPS officers, hundreds of inspectors, sub-inspectors, from neighbouring districts are being put on the job.

Meanwhile, hectic preparations are being made to showcase the grandeur of the Mughal metropolis.

The Agra Municipal Corporation, the Agra Development Authority and the Archaeological Survey of India have mobilised their resources to make the US President's visit a memorable event.

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department officials are hoping that the visit will give a boost to sagging tourism in Agra, as reflected in the falling number of tourists visiting Taj Mahal, the 17th century monument of love.

The safai karamcharis of the municipal corporation are sprucing up the Mall road and the Fatehabad road. Trees are being painted and the walls along the Mall are being given a fresh coat of paint.