Ramlila Maidan gears up to host Arvind Kejriwal's second swearing-in

NEW DELHI: Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday wore a busy look as hectic preparations were underway to ready the historic venue for Saturday’s swearing in of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi chief minister. Vertical green metal poles for reinforcing barricades, a fresh coat of white and red paint to the main dais and a wooden stage could be seen being raised at the ground.

Two departments of the Delhi government and officials from the North Delhi Municipal Corporation are currently working on the preparations for the swearing-in ceremony. Early on Wednesday morning, officials from the General Administration Department and Public Works Department, among others, visited the maidan to assess preparations, which had kick-started on Tuesday.

Mohammad Zaheer, one of the workers at the maidan involved in redoing the main enclosure towards Turkman Gate, informed that contractors had brought them at the grounds on Tuesday afternoon and work on refurbishing and painting the enclosure had begun around 1 pm on Tuesday. According to an official from the GAD, as is the case with most big public meetings held at the maidan, the swearing-in ceremony will have all arrangements made during the 2013 ceremony.

Mobile toilets, emergency health arrangements, seating arrangements, a stage, screens for wider public display etc will all be there. “Preparatory meetings have been held at least twice since yesterday with the GAD by the chief secretary,” he said. Curiously, maidan may have VIP seats during the swearing in. GAD officials expect over a lakh supporters to turn up for the event. This official also informed that the dais and venue will be decorated with potted flowers.