Agra Turns into Fortress Ahead of PM Modi Visit's to Kick Off Election Campaign

Agra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off BJP's election campaign in Agra on Wednesday, a day after the Union cabinet gave its approval for 10% reservation for upper caste. Political experts believe that the passage of quota bill has made today's rally even more significant as caste equations in Uttar Pradesh have always played a major role.

Modi is scheduled to fly to Agra from Bidar in Karnataka and reach around 3.15 pm. The commuters could face inconvenience during that time as vehicular movement would not be allowed on MG Road between Collectorate square and St. John's crossing till the prime minister leaves the city in the evening.

According to a report in Times of India, city bus service and other vehicle movements would be banned on MG Road from Hariparvat crossing to PWD roundabout after 2 pm till PM's departure for the airport.

Though commuters can opt for alternative route via waterworks crossing towards Yamuna Kinara road and further for their respective destinations through Bijlighar, Baluganj and Fatehabad road.

No vehicle would be allowed to pass via Vayu Vihar trisection towards Tata Gate, Prithvinath Phatak. Vehicles can opt for the alternative route via Amarpura and Bodla road. Further, no traffic would be allowed towards Prithvinath Phatak from Bhogipura.

The pre-decided route for the PM’s cavalcade starting from Tata Gate, via Prithavinath Phatak, Shankarpuri trisection, Ram Nagar crossing, Saket intersection to Kothi Meena Bazar ground would be complete out of bound for local residents on Wednesday.

All heavy vehicles coming from Kanpur and Mathura via NH-2 won’t be allowed to enter or pass via city limits between 8 am and 8 pm. Vehicles coming from Kanpur side have to opt for Yamuna Expressway or ring road to head towards Mathura, Jaipur and Gwalior. While vehicles coming from the national capital or Mathura have to opt for bypass road via Raipura Jat, Patholi, Rohta and Shamshabad to head towards ring road.

According to police, 4,000 constables, 70 women constables, 250 sub-inspectors, 30 women sub-inspectors, 70 inspectors, 35 circle officers, 15 superintendents of police, 10 IPS officers and 10 companies of paramilitary forces and provincial armed constabulary along with military personnel would be deployed for the PM's security along with personnel of special protection group.

According to party sources, he is expected to inaugurate a number of projects. The Kothi Meena Bazar ground is expected to be full with around two lakh supporters, according to local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. The party has put up hoardings of the prime minister all over the city.

Meanwhile, members of the Civil Aviation Society released a poster, demanding a full-fledged international airport in the city.

Activists on Tuesday drew attention to a promise made by Modi in November 2013 of constructing a barrage on the Yamuna river, saying no headway had been made so far. "Nitin Gadkari had promised a ferry service for tourists from Delhi to Agra, but there is neither water nor a ferry service," said environmentalist Devashish Bhattacharya.