The 79th Independence Day will be celebrated at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground in the heart of the city on Friday, with 1,150 members of 35 police force contingents taking part in the ceremonial parade.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hoist the flag at 9 a.m., receive the salute, and later address the crowd. The event will witness a performance by 650 children commemorating the women from Karnataka who took part in the freedom struggle, according to a press release by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
As many as 500 students of Seshadripuram Pre-University College will stage a performance depicting five guarantees of the Congress government, and 253 members of the Karnataka police will participate in a mass band.
The 35 contingents taking part in the parade include the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the City Armed Reserve (CAR), the Goa police, the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF), the traffic police, the women police, the Home Guards, the traffic wardens, the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES), the canine squad, and a band squad.
The Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner’s office has started issuing free passes for the programme on the Seva Sindhu portal. As many as 3,000 passes will be issued, among which 100 have been issued already. Physical passes can also be collected at the Assistant Commissioner’s and the Deputy Commissioner’s offices.
Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh announced that an elaborate bandobast plan has been chalked out for the programme, with 2,000 officers being deployed around the ground. The announcement was made after the final parade practice on Wednesday.
In addition to 500 cameras in the vicinity of the ground, the police are installing an additional 100. A strict frisking procedure will be in place before the entry. Handheld metal detectors, door frame metal detectors, and baggage scanners will be deployed for additional security measures.
The public are strictly allowed to enter through Gate 5 only and should occupy blocks seven, eight and nine. E-pass holders must carry valid ID proof, and the public must be seated inside by 8.30 a.m., and no latecomers will be entertained.
Any sharp objects, matchboxes, knives, pamphlets, food and snacks, water bottles, video and still cameras, firecrackers, explosives, and weapons won’t be allowed. No one can wear black clothing.
Traffic restrictions
To ensure smooth flow of traffic, the police have announced traffic diversions and parking restrictions around the Central Business District (CBD) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Parking has been prohibited on Central Street from Anil Kumble Circle to Shivajinagar bus stand. Similarly, no parking on Cubbon Road from CTO Circle to K.R. Road and Cubbon Road junction. Parking is also prohibited on M.G. Road between Anil Kumble Circle and Queens Circle on both sides.
The vehicles coming from Infantry Road towards Manipal Centre should move on Infantry Road, take a left turn at Safina Plaza, move to Kamaraj Road via Dispensary Road, take a right turn at Dickenson Road junction, and reach Manipal Centre junction via Cubbon Road.
Vehicles coming from Manipal junction towards BRV Junction on Cubbon Road will be prohibited near Manipal Centre. Vehicles must take the right turn at the Webbs junction, move on MG Road, take a right turn at Anil Kumble Circle and reach BRV junction.
The vehicles coming from Anil Kumble Circle towards Cubbon Road will go straight on Central Street Junction, take a right turn on Infantry Road, move to Safina Plaza, take a left turn and reach Kamaraj Road via Alies Circle, take a right at Dickenson Road junction to reach KR Road, make a left turn to Cubbon Road and reach Manipal Centre via Cubbon Road.