Coimbatore under high alert as Vice President Radhakrishnan arrives tomorrow
Coimbatore, July 21
Ahead of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan's arrival on Wednesday to inaugurate the GKNM Nursing College at GKNM Hospital in Papanaickenpalayam in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore city, the city has been placed under a high-security blanket.
The inaugural function is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the hospital campus. The Vice President will arrive in Coimbatore from New Delhi by a special flight before proceeding to the venue, where he will formally inaugurate the nursing college and address the gathering.
The event is expected to be attended by senior medical professionals, educationists, public representatives and invited guests. Following the ceremony, the Vice President will travel by road to the Coimbatore International Airport and return to New Delhi later in the evening.
In view of the high-profile visit, the Coimbatore City Police have deployed extensive security arrangements across the city. Police Commissioner Kannan is overseeing security operations, with a large number of police personnel stationed along the Vice President's travel route, at the event venue and at other strategic locations to ensure a smooth and incident-free visit.
As part of the security measures, authorities have declared several areas of the city as Red Zones and imposed a temporary ban on the operation of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles.
The restrictions came into effect at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and will remain in force until 11 a.m. on Thursday.
The notified Red Zone areas include Uppilipalayam, Race Course, Avinashi Road, Lakshmi Mills Junction, the GKNM Hospital premises, HOBS, CODISSIA, Peelamedu, Chitra, Nehru Nagar, Kalapatti, Chinniyampalayam and nearby localities.
Police have warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found violating the drone restrictions.
Officials said the temporary measures are part of the standard security protocol adopted during visits by constitutional dignitaries.
Traffic movement is also expected to be regulated along stretches of the Vice President's convoy route to facilitate smooth passage.
Motorists have been advised to cooperate with traffic police and follow diversions and advisories issued during the visit. The inauguration of the GKNM Nursing College is expected to strengthen nursing education and healthcare training facilities in the region, while the Vice President's visit has prompted one of the most comprehensive security deployments witnessed in Coimbatore in recent months.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Security is always top priority for VIP visits, no doubt. But Coimbatore is a peaceful city - we've hosted many dignitaries without issues. The real concern should be the quality of nursing education, not just the inauguration show. Hope this college produces skilled nurses who will serve our people well, especially in rural areas.
As a nursing student myself, this is wonderful news! 🎉 More colleges mean more opportunities for women in healthcare. But I wish they'd also address the working conditions for nurses in government hospitals. Inaugurations are fine, but we need sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure. The police deployment seems standard for such visits though.
Impressive security arrangements - reminds me of how they handle dignitary visits back in the UK. The red zone and drone ban protocols are sensible. Glad to see Coimbatore getting national attention for healthcare education. Just hope the local residents and businesses near the affected areas are given proper advance notice about the traffic restrictions.
Honestly, with the way healthcare is struggling in our state, this nursing college is a welcome addition. But why does every VIP visit need to turn the city upside down? Red zones, drone bans, traffic chaos... feels like we're under siege for a few hours. Hope the VPs speech has some substance on improving nursing standards in India. 🇮🇳
Visited GKNM last year for a medical camp - excellent facility. It's great they're expanding into nursing education. The security protocol seems thorough but appropriate for a constitutional position. My only concern: do these events actually translate into better healthcare access for ordinary people
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