Preparations underway for grandeur oath-taking ceremony; Video wall at various locations, Traffic restrictions from 7 am

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Intelligence reports suggest that more than one lakh people will arrive in the capital to witness the swearing-in of the UDF government. Traffic restrictions have been imposed in the capital from 7 am on Monday.

Video walls will be set up outside the central stadium and at various centres in the city.

The Public Administration Department instructed to set up a huge pavilion that can seat 20,000 people at the stadium, where the Chief Minister and all the ministers will be sworn in at 10 am. The German pavilion, with no pillars in the middle, is being constructed using huge cranes. People will be seated inside the pavilion in six zones.

The Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh and top Congress leaders would be in attendance, and 4500 police personnel are deployed for security. The front part of the stage will be reserved for VIPs, including the Chief Ministers from neighbouring states. Video walls will be set up on both sides of the stage.

For thousands of workers to watch the proceedings live, a large video wall will be set up at Nishagandhi, MLA Hostel, Medical College Ground, Indira Bhavan, Statue junction, Gandhi Park and other grounds.

The party workers from northern districts, including Malappuram, will reach the city by hiring buses. All the hotel rooms in the capital have been booked. Train and bus reservations are also unavailable. It is expected that the capital will be filled with UDF workers from today onwards.

The preparations for the oath-taking ceremony are being led by the Protocol Division of the Public Administration Department. Leaders from other states, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, are also arriving. The preparations were reviewed by Chief Secretary Dr A. Jayathilak.

Parking for vehicles, including VIPs, MPs and MLAs is at the Secretariat. Parking facilities have been provided for vehicles of those coming for the oath-taking ceremony, including in the university premises and the university's Sanskrit colleges. There is also parking in the grounds of various schools and temples. Buses carrying activists should park on the bypass.