Capital Scrubbed Clean For Clinton Visit

TRAFFIC ISLANDS are choked with colourful flowering plants and barren roadsides are lined with shrubs. Road signs and railings have a fresh coat of paint.

The civic agencies of the Capital, who have a range of ready excuses for not being ever able to clean up the city, have suddenly managed to do a sprucing up in record time. All thanks to US President Bill Clinton's visit to the Capital.

Sardar Patel Marg, on which the hotel where Mr Clinton is supposed to stay is located, has rows upon rows of bright yellow dahlias lined against a fence covered with bright green cloth. The entire length of the road has bamboo poles painted green used to put up barricades. Green seems to be the colour for the Clinton visit. However, police barricades used to block the roads are being repainted a bright yellow.

The outside of the hotel is a bustle of activity. Even the security guards of the hotel seem to have polished the brass buttons of their uniforms to shine like gold. Security check zones have sprung up at all the gates of the hotel, with walkie-talkie-totting men manning them.

All zebra crossings and stop lines on the roads have been painted afresh. Hyderabad House has its walls barricaded with cloth, blocking out any chance of even peeping into the preparations going on inside. Even adjoining buildings are being whitewashed. All the gates have security personnel from the Delhi Police posted to check vehicles and persons entering the premises. Vehicles loaded with ladders, paint and bamboo poles are arriving at regular intervals as arrangements are being made at top speed.

In front of Purana Qila, additional greenery has sprung up as plants have been planted overnight. Even the road dividers have potted plants. Protecting these plants from being stolen would be yet another headache.