The security agencies are gearing up for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district on July 27 to participate in a function to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the conquest of the Gangetic plains by King Rajendra Chola I. This will be Mr. Modi’s first visit to Ariyalur district.
A booklet on Thevaram songs published by the Sahitya Akademi is to be released on the occasion. A Bharatanatyam performance by a group of Kalakshetra artists, chanting of Thevaram by a team also forms part of the event which will culminate with a musical presentation by music composer Ilaiyaraaja and his troupe.
Detailed security schemes have been drawn up by the Tiruchi City Police and the Ariyalur district police as the Prime Minister is to board a chopper from the Tiruchi international airport to Gangaikondacholapuram on Sunday morning. Mr. Modi is expected to arrive here from Thoothukudi by a special aircraft and stay in Tiruchi on Saturday night.
Ahead of Mr. Modi’s visit, an Advanced Security Liaison (ASL) meeting was conducted at the Tiruchi airport by the Special Protection Group on Wednesday in which Tiruchi City police officers, those from other security agencies, and airport authorities participated. Another meeting was held at the Circuit House here to ensure extensive security-related coordination along with local authorities, said police sources.
A separate ASL meeting is to be held at Gangaikondacholapuram on Thursday which is to be attended by the Ariyalur district Collector, Inspector-General of Police, Central Zone, Superintendent of Police, Ariyalur and other officials. Arrangements have begun at the venue with a helipad established nearby for the Prime Minister’s chopper to land from Tiruchi airport on Sunday morning.
Mr. Modi will pray at the world famous Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikondacholapuram before attending the function. He will return to Tiruchi and then leave for New Delhi, the sources said.
A multi-layer security arrangement is to be put in place at the Tiruchi airport and along the route on the eve of Mr. Modi’s arrival. The Tiruchi City Police have planned to mobilise over 1,000 personnel for deployment at the airport and other places. Anti-sabotage teams are to be deployed at the airport.
Gangaikondacholapuram will be brought under a heavy security on Saturday and Sunday. Around 2,000 police personnel from Ariyalur and other districts in the central zone are to be deployed for security and for regulation of vehicular movements, said the sources.
The ‘Aadi Thiruvadhirai’ festival at Gangaikondaxcolapuram is to be held from July 23 to 27. The Union Ministry of Culture will celebrate the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I and commemorate the 1,000 years of his maritime expedition in South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the Gangaikondacholapuram temple.
The Archaeological Survey of India will host thematic exhibitions on Chola Shaivism and temple architecture and organise heritage walk and guided tours as part of the festival.
Published – July 23, 2025 08:51 pm IST
