Yoga Day preparations keeps officials busy in Dehradun

Officials were busy today ensuring everything was in place on the Forest Research Institute campus here which is hosting the country's main International Yoga Day event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go through the asanas on the FRI campus tomorrow, leading an estimated 50,000 enthusiasts, against the backdrop of a British-era building.

He likely to stay there from 6.45 am to 7.45 am, performing yoga and addressing people.

Security was tightened all over the city ahead of his visit beginning tonight. Modi will spend the night in Raj Bhawan's presidential suite, officials here said.

There was massive deployment of security personnel in and around the FRI, and along the route of the prime minister's convoy, Dehradun District Magistrate S A Murugesan said.

The FRI campus spread over 500 hectares was kept closed for visitors for two days, he said. The entire place was spruced up.

He said 50,100 mats have been spread at the venue for the participants.

ADG (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar said nearly 3,000 security personnel have been deployed and there are 63 CCTV cameras at the venue to keep an eye on 60 gates.

The traffic in the city will be diverted to ensure that there are no snarls.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat wrote a blog today to welcome the prime minister and thank him for selecting the city to host the main Yoga Day event.

He said this will boost tourism in Uttarakhand and give the state an identity as the land of yoga.

"Uttarakhand is the place in whose caves and caverns the ancient sages meditated and invented yoga, a holistic science of physical and spiritual well-being, he wrote.

There has been a flurry of activity in Dehradun over the past few days.

Roads have been repaired with their potholes filled up, a fresh coat of asphalt laid on them and the dividers painted afresh.

Yoga walks' were held in the city, including one led by the chief minister in which his cabinet colleagues participated. Director General of Police Anil Raturi led another such yoga promotion drive to draw people to tomorrow's event.

Leading a 'Walk for Yoga' in the city, the chief minister appealed to people to make yoga an integral part of their lives.

He said a healthy India cannot be imagined without yoga becoming part of every Indian's daily routine.