Enhanced security for May's visit to Bengaluru

Security has been enhanced and vigil stepped up for the day-long visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May here on Tuesday, said a police official.

"Security details are sensitive and hence not divulged for official reasons, especially in case of VIPs visiting the state. Elaborate security is in place for May in the city as per the rules," a senior police official told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

May, 60, who is on a maiden three-day official visit to India since Sunday, will reach here from New Delh on a special aircraft and will participate in five-six events across the city.

Soon on arrival at 10.30 a.m., May will hold a bilateral meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a hotel near the international airport at Devanahalli, about 40km from the city centre.

On way to the city, May will go to a state-run primary school at Papanahalli and interact with its girls and boys.

"The British Prime Minister will visit Dynamatic Technologies Ltd at the Peenya industrial estate and inspect its aerospace facility, where components are made for British and French firms like BAE Systems and Airbus Industries," said a protocol official ahead of the visit.

After lunch at a hotel in the city centre, May will go to the Someshwara Temple at Halasuru and seek blessings of the Hindu deity Shiva.

The 15th century temple is one the oldest in the southern state, dating back to the Chola period.

On way back to the airport, May will hold an hour-long interactive session with chief executives of India Inc at a city hotel.

A delegation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) will call on her at the venue.

May is the fourth British Premier to visit Bengaluru after her (Conservative) Party's then leader John Major on January 9, 1997, his Labour Party successor Tony Blair on January 4, 2002 and her predecessor David Cameron on July 28, 2010.

"Vehicular traffic will be restricted and regulated on the routes May's motorcade will drive to the venues where events are scheduled for her and her accompanying delegation. We will try to minimise inconvenience to the public and avoid gridlock," the police officer added.

--IANS

fb/vd