A temporary helipad being constructed on Monday along Kollidakarai Road in Srirangam ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit.
| Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY
Security is to be stepped at Srirangam in view of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Sri Ranganathaswamy temple on Wednesday evening. This will be the President’s maiden visit to the temple.
The President, accompanied by Governor R.N. Ravi, will arrive at Tiruchi airport from Chennai by a special aircraft at 10.40 a.m. on Wednesday and immediately leave by a helicopter to Tiruvarur where she will be the chief guest at the 10th convocation of the Central University of Tamil Nadu.
She will then fly to Srirangam by the chopper from Tiruvarur accompanied by the Governor. The chopper will land at the helipad established along Panchakarai road adjoining the Kollidam river in Srirangam around 4.30 p.m.
The President will travel by road from the helipad and reach the temple. She will have darshan of Sri Ranganathaswamy at the sanctum sanctorum and at other shrines. After the temple visit, she will leave by road at 5.25 p.m. to the airport and fly to New Delhi by the special aircraft, said police sources.
Ahead of Ms. Droupadi Murmu’s visit, Advanced Security Liaison (ASL) meetings were held at Tiruchi airport and at the thousand pillar mandapam inside Sri Ranganathaswamy temple complex on Monday.
The separate meetings, which lasted nearly one-and-half hours at both places, were attended by Commissioner of Police, Tiruchi, N. Kamini, Tiruchi Collector V. Saravanan, and senior officers of various agencies. The Commissioner of Police and the Collector later inspected the helipad.
The sources said skeletal police strength had already been deployed at the helipad, which was being spruced up for the President’s chopper to land. The helipad was constructed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srirangam temple in January last. A rehearsal of the helicopter landing and take off from the helipad was carried out on Monday morning. Full manpower strength would be deployed at the helipad on Tuesday evening.
The temple complex would be out of bounds for devotees hours before the arrival of the President. Anti-sabotage teams would also be positioned within the temple complex as part of the comprehensive security arrangements.
Meanwhile, an official release said flying of drones had been banned on September 2-3 for security reasons in connection with the President’s visit.
Published – September 01, 2025 05:59 pm IST
