Holiday in Chandigarh schools for PM's visit

Thousands of students in government and private schools across the union territory of Chandigarh will enjoy a holiday on Friday, as authorities declared a holiday in all schools to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here.

Examinations scheduled for Friday in some schools have also been postponed, sources in the Chandigarh education department said on Thursday.

The Chandigarh administration declared a holiday in city schools since several roads here will be blocked by police and other security agencies for the prime minister's day-long visit to attend four events in the city.

After landing in Chandigarh on Friday morning, the prime minister will first inaugurate the international terminal of Chandigarh airport.

Modi will then head to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research for a convocation.

The prime minister will address a public rally at the Sector 25 ground, which will largely be a Bharatiya Janata Party affair.

He will then visit Sector 63 in the south-west part of Chandigarh to hand over the keys of newly built flats for the economically weaker sections to beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, hectic preparations are on for Modi's visit to the city.

Security around the four venues, which Modi will visit, has been tightened.

The prime minister's Special Protection Group and the National Security Guard commandos have already arrived in Chandigarh to supervise security arrangements.