Mysuru: The Special Protection Group (SPG) has taken control of the planetarium at the foot of Chamundi Hill today and stepped up security checks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mysuru on Nov. 13 for the inauguration of the Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre (COSMOS) and the Bharat Vana Miyawaki Mini Forest at K.C. Nagar.

As part of the security arrangements, iron barricades are being installed on either side of the main roads leading to the planetarium and the mini forest. Workers are being allowed into the premises only after thorough checks at the entrances.

The authorities have also carried out background checks on students invited to attend the planetarium inauguration and briefed them on the protocols to be followed during the Prime Minister’s visit.

Final mock convoy drill tomorrow

Sources said, the SPG is expected to conduct a final mock convoy drill tomorrow (Nov. 12) to ensure that all security arrangements are in place before Modi’s arrival on Nov. 13.

According to the schedule, after attending programmes in Bengaluru, Modi will take a helicopter from Bengaluru and land at Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Helipad at 3.20 pm.

He will inaugurate the mini forest before travelling by road to the planetarium at the foot of Chamundi Hill. The inauguration of the planetarium is scheduled between 4 pm and 5.45 pm.

Later, Modi will travel by road to Mysore Airport at Mandakalli, from where he will board an IAF Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) aircraft to Delhi at 6.05 pm.

Traffic diversions

Meanwhile, the Mysuru City Police have announced traffic diversions for Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 (Thursday and Friday).

According to a press release issued by the Office of the Mysuru City Police Commissioner, commuters travelling on the following stretches have been asked to take alternative routes to reach their destinations:

Lalithadripura Road: Lalithadripura Ring Road Junction to Helipad ‘Y’ Junction.

IVAC Road: IVAC Junction to Chamundi Hill Road Junction.

Lalitha Mahal Road: T. Narasipur Road ‘T’ Junction to MRC Circle.

Chamundi Hill Road: Sangolli Rayanna Circle to Chamundi Hill.

Lorry Terminal Road: MRC Circle to Rajahamsa Junction.

Nanjangud Road: Rajahamsa Junction to Nanjangud Ring Road Junction.

Vehicles travelling from Sangolli Rayanna Circle to the top of Chamundi Hill have been directed to take the route via Gautham Buddha Circle, M.M. Road, R. Mahadevappa Circle, Sangeetha Corner, T. Junction, Savitribai Phule Circle, Ring Road, Uttanahalli Ring Road and Chamundi Hill Road.

Mock convoy drill

Meanwhile, the City Police conducted a mock convoy drill involving 50 vehicles yesterday on the main roads identified for the Prime Minister’s movement.

The drill covered the routes from the helipad at Shashiranjan Grounds near Lalitha Mahal on  T. Narasipur Road to the Miyawaki Mini Forest at K.C. Nagar, the planetarium and Mysore Airport at Mandakalli.