Srinagar: President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in the summer capital, Srinagar, on Sunday on a four-day visit to the Union Territories (UTs) of J&K and Ladakh.
Official sources said President Kovind arrived here at 1115 hrs at the technical airport, Srinagar. “The President was received by J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials of civil administration and police,” they said.
They said the President, who completed four years in the office today, was accorded a guard of honour.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up across Kashmir valley with multi-layer security arrangements put in place, particularly in and around the venues which would host the President. Roads leading to Raj Bhawan, where Mr Kovind will stay — Boulevard road along world famous Dal Lake and high profile Gupkar road — have been closed for general public. Traffic police has already notified that these roads will remain closed from today till July 27 and people are advised to take foreshore and other roads.
During his visit to the UTs, the President will pay homage to the indomitable courage and sacrifice of the Indian armed forces during the Kargil conflict in 1999 at the Kargil War Memorial Drass (Ladakh) on the 22nd anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26. In 2019, the President was scheduled to visit Drass to pay tributes to Kargil martyrs but his flight could not take off from Srinagar airport due to bad weather. Instead, he paid tributes by laying a wreath at a war memorial at the Army’s 15 Corps headquarters in Badamibagh in the city.
On July 27, the President will grace and address the 19th Annual Convocation of the University of Kashmir in Srinagar.
A traffic official said the movement of vehicles will be restricted from Sunday to July 27 on Boulevard– Gupkar roads. “The motorists are requested to take Ram-MunshiBagh- Dalgate – Rainiwari – Hazratbal – Habak – Foreshore – Nishat route for to and fro movement. The traffic will be diverted at Ram-MunshiBagh crossing, Badyari crossing Dalgate and Nishat/Foreshore crossing,” he said.
In view of the visit of the President to J&K, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have already ordered the cancellation of leaves of its personnel. “In view of the expected visit of the President of India to UT of J&K, all kinds of leaves are stopped till further orders,” read an order issued by the Additional Director General of Police Security Dr S D S Jamwal on July 17.
President Ram Nath Kovind arrives in Srinagar on 4-day visit to J&K ,Ladakh
