Security drills on VIP route before Chinese President's visit

Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit on September 17, senior police officials along with more than 500 men in uniform conducted the final security rehearsal on the route to be used by Jinping's convoy after his arrival at Ahmedabad airport on Wednesday.
Jinping is scheduled to arrive at Ahmedabad airport on Wednesday afternoon and head to Grand Hyatt Hotel in Vastrapur area here. Later in the evening, he will have dinner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to arrive here tomorrow afternoon.
"This is our standard procedure to ensure that the actual convoy moves forward without any problem. Today, key police officers along with 500 others did a final rehearsal on routes which will be used by convoys of both the PM and the Chinese president. In the rehearsal, we try to replicate the actual situation using our vehicles," a senior police official said.

"Routes of both the dignitaries are different. Thus, in the morning, we conducted a rehearsal on the PM's route from Ahmedabad airport to Gandhingar. Later in the afternoon, we conducted another rehearsal on the route of the Chinese president's convoy. We covered Vastrapur, Sabarmati Ashram and the riverfront during the whole exercise," the official said.
According to an official statement by the city Crime Branch, which is overseeing security arrangements, more than 4,500 policemen, including Chetak Commandos, mounted police, bomb disposal squads, dog squads and six boats will be deployed for the VVIP bandobast during September 16 and September 17.

For smooth movement of convoys of both the leaders, the city traffic police has asked citizens to avoid several roads on these days.
"It is our request to all citizens to avoid VIP routes and plan their day accordingly. However, parking will be strictly prohibited on these routes during these two days," Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) H G Patel said.