The two leaders will go around the UNESCO World Heritage Site housing rock-cut and stone carved monuments. The Swachh Bharat programme is being implemented in its true form in Mahabalipuram and at a couple of stretches in Chennai with even small garbage being cleaned up, roads and pavements being relaid and walls being painted with attractive images and others.
Electric transformers or power junction boxes have been covered and roadside shops are being evicted so as to present a pleasant sight to the visiting dignitary. The airport is also being spruced up and cultural programmes are scheduled to welcome PM Modi and Jinping.
Reports of extensive security arrangement being made are coming with the Tamil Nadu Police deploying thousands of security forces between Mahabalipuram and Chennai to avert any untoward incident.
The Chennai Traffic Police have redirected travel routes within the city and on the outskirts of the state capital. Even IT companies, educational institutions, commercial establishments and the general public have been asked to plan their travel accordingly.
As per an advisory by the concerned department, No heavy vehicles, light goods carriers, goods vehicles, and tanker lorries will be permitted to enter GST Road (from Airport to Kathippara), Anna Salai (Kathippara to Little Mount), Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), Sardar Patel Road, and East Coast Road (ECR) on October 11 and 12 between 6 am till 11 pm.
Detailed Programme Of Chinese President Xi Jinping's India Visit:
- According to the itinerary, Jinping will arrive at the Chennai International Airport at 2.10 p.m. on Friday.
- He will depart for Mahabalipuram, which is 50 kms away from Chennai, at 4.00 p.m.
- At 5.00 p.m., he will be given a guided tour of three monuments -- Arjuna's Penance, Panch Rathas and the Shore Temple -- at Mahabalipuram
- At 6.00 p.m., he will witness a cultural performance by the Kalakshetra team at the Shore Temple.
- At 6.45 p.m., he will attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- On Saturday, the second day of the visit, Xi will arrive at the Taj Fisherman's Cove Resort & Spa at 9.50 a.m.
- At 10.00 a.m., the two leaders will engage in a tete-e-tete at the Machan, Taj Fisherman's Cove Resort & Spa.
- At 10.50 a.m., the two sides will hold delegation-level talks at the Tango Hall, Taj Fisherman's Cove Resort & Spa.
- At 11.45 a.m., Xi will attend a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Modi.
- At 12.45 p.m., he will depart for the Chennai International Airport.
- At 13.30 p.m., he will emplane for his next destination.
- The media will have access to the Media Centre at Sheraton Grand, Chennai, according to the itinerary shared by the Ministry of External Affairs
As part of the welcoming programme, students from schools and colleges and others will stand on the pavements waving Indian and Chinese national flags to greet Xi Jinping on his way to ITC Grand Chola Hotel from the airport and from there to Mahabalipuram. The Tamil Nadu government has also organised troupes from different parts of the state to showcase the various traditional cultures of the state. The troupes are training hard here for the past two days.
They will perform on the stages erected for Xi Jinping to see while he is enroute Mahabalipuram from the ITC Grand Hotel. While PM Modi will spend the Friday night at a beach resort near Mahabalipuram, the Chinese President will drive back to the ITC Grand Chola Hotel. On Saturday morning, Xi Jinping will again go to Mahabalipuram by road and have discussions with PM Modi.
(With inputs from agencies)