By IANS,
Chandigarh : Traffic restrictions have been put in place in Chandigarh ahead of the high-voltage India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal match at Mohali near here. The police Tuesday issued an advisory to the public on the routes to avoid.
“We have advised the public to avoid various roads, like the one connecting the airport with Tribune roundabout, PCA (Punjab Cricket Association) Stadium and Hotel Taj. These roads will be kept free as many VIPs will be using it from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Wednesday),” said a Chandigarh police official here.
With prime ministers, high-profile politicians and corporate honchos in attendance for Wednesday’s match, the police are not taking no chance on the security front.
“We have advised the public to use alternate routes to visit various sectors in the city on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.,” he added.
Many bigwigs, including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, politicians and Bollywood stars, are expected to arrive in Chandigarh Wednesday. The match is being played in Mohali, 10 km from here.
Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur are expected to reach Chandigarh airport around 11 a.m., from where they go to Punjab Raj Bhavan and then to the PCA Stadium around 2 p.m., officials said.
Manmohan Singh is staying overnight at Punjab Raj Bhavan, the official residence of Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil.
Gilani, who will stay at Hotel Taj, will arrive at the airport at 1 p.m. and he is expected to go directly to the stadium. Both prime ministers will return from the stadium at 4 p.m. and then again return to the stadium around 7 p.m. and have dinner.
Armed security personnel would be lined up on both sides of the 15-km road, between Hotel Taj and the stadium, along which the teams’ convoys will pass. The team buses will take a five-km longer route to avoid the busy city roads.
Spectators are expected to start arriving at the stadium by 6 a.m. though the match will start only at 2.30 p.m.