300 workers spruce roads before funeral procession
A NORTH CORPORATION OFFICIAL SAID THAT ARRANGEMENTS WERE ALSO MADE FOR MOBILE WATER BOOTHS AND MEDICAL VANS FOR
THE CROWDS
NEW DELHI: Preparation for the funeral procession of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee began as early as 6am on Friday, with the North Delhi Municipal Corporation pressing as many as 300 sanitation workers into service.
The civic agency had received direction from the Union government on Thursday to ensure cleanliness and to make sure that the six kilometres stretch from Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg to Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, where last rites of Vajpayee was performed, was well swept.
“We deployed a fleet of garbage lifting vehicles, arranged for immediate repair of pavements, ensured fogging and engaged sanitation workers in three shifts from Thursday for regular sweeping of roads and pruning of hedges. The drive continued till Friday evening as the sanitation staff ensured lifting of rose petals from roads after the event was over,” said a senior North Corporation Official.
“To give a fresh look to the area, we also arranged for painting of kerb stones and crossings on some identified roads,” said the official.
A north corporation official said that arrangements were also made for mobile water booths and medical vans for the crowds.
“We had engaged 10 water booths and four medical vans (including two from the Delhi Government) to provide medical assistance to people who took part in the funeral procession. Beside this, we had also deployed dog catching vans on earmarked route,” said an official.
The agency also coordinated with the Union defence ministry for making preparations for the last rites of Vajpayee at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal.
“We had arranged for 400 kilogram of sandalwood for making the funeral pyre and also arrranged priests for the ceremony. The government and civic agencies coordinated for making sitting arrangements inside the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal,”’ said the official.