City all set for a breathtaking session

80MINUTE SESSION PM to perform yoga with 51,000 others, event will be telecast live

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform yoga asanas along with 51,000 other participants during an 80-minute session at the sprawling Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan in Lucknow on Wednesday (third International Yoga Day).

He will be flanked by governor Ram Naik and chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

In attendance will be ministers in the Yogi government, students, paramilitary personnel, government officials and volunteers.

The yoga session is expected to begin around 6.30am and end at 7.50am. But volunteers have to reach the venue by 4.30am.

The event will be telecast live through LED TVs installed all across the venue.

Those who will not be able to make it to the Ramabai Ambedkar ground will have an opportunity to perform yoga at any of the 11 parks across the city, selected for the event, where yoga will be telecast live through LED TVs.

On Monday, full dress rehearsal was conducted at the venue with all 51,000 people taking part.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and governor Ram Naik were also present to review the rehearsal.

The entire state government machinery was present on the occasion.

The chief minister instructed officials that a water bottle be placed next to every participant.

Special yoga mats have been placed at the venue, which participants will be allowed to take along with them after the yoga session on Wednesday.

Elaborate security arrangements have been for the event.

Ten companies of central paramilitary forces, 25 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, two teams of the Anti-Terrorist Squad and hundreds of police personnel will be deployed in and around the venue to prevent any untoward incident.

Till the PM remains at the venue, it will be a no-fly zone.

Modi will reach Lucknow around 4.30pm on June 20. This will be his fourth visit to the state capital as Prime Minister.

It will be his first overnight stay here.

Modi will inaugurate the new campus of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University on June 20 and a new building of the CDRI on first day of his visit. He will also be handing over allotment letters to 20 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna at the CDRI.

On Tuesday, Modi will have dinner with Yogi Adityanath at 5 Kalidas Marg, the official residence of the CM and will stay at Raj Bhawan overnight.

Politicians and ministers in UP are also expected to be present for the dinner.

The Prime Minister is expected to leave Lucknow by 12noon on June 21.