President Droupadi Murmu’s Bilaspur Visit Revised, Naina Devi Temple Stop Dropped

President Droupadi Murmu’s proposed visit to Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh on 6 October has been revised. Under the new programme, she will not visit the Shri Naina Devi Ji temple. Her visit will now remain limited to the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Bilaspur.

According to the revised schedule, President Droupadi Murmu will reach the helipad built on the AIIMS Bilaspur campus at 10:35 am on 6 October. Around 10 minutes later, at 10:45 am, the first convocation ceremony of the institute will begin.

The ceremony is scheduled to continue for around 50 minutes. The President will attend it as the chief guest, address the students and award them their degrees. The convocation ceremony is scheduled to conclude at around 11:35 am. After this, the President is scheduled to leave for Manali.

The revised programme has been finalised by the President’s Office. Following the change, the Bilaspur district administration and the AIIMS management have started preparations according to the new schedule.

Under the revised programme, the President’s Bilaspur visit on 6 October will remain limited to the first convocation ceremony at AIIMS Bilaspur. During the visit, all outpatient departments, or OPDs, at the AIIMS hospital will remain closed. Emergency services, however, will continue as before.

Arrangements are being made for the President’s security, the decoration of the programme venue, and the routes to be used for her arrival and departure. The district administration is also maintaining continuous coordination with administrative officers and security agencies for all arrangements connected with the visit.

Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar said the President’s programme had been changed. He said President Droupadi Murmu would no longer visit the Naina Devi temple and would go directly to the first convocation ceremony at AIIMS Bilaspur.

Speaking about the security arrangements, Rahul Kumar said prohibitory orders would remain in force in Bilaspur under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Under these orders, the flying and operation of drones, paragliders and parasailing equipment will be completely prohibited.

There will also be a complete ban on carrying arms and weapons, ammunition, long-range weapons and sharp-edged weapons. The restrictions are part of the security arrangements for the President’s programme.

Rahul Kumar said that 500 police personnel and Home Guard personnel, along with security agencies, had been deployed for the event. The deployment has been made so that traffic arrangements and every activity connected with the programme can be closely monitored.

The Brahmapukhar to Nauni Chowk road will remain closed to heavy vehicles from 6 am to 2 pm. The restriction will apply to heavy vehicles using this route during the President’s visit.

For heavy vehicles travelling between Shimla, Dharamshala and Manali, the Brahmapukhar to Jukhala route via Ghaghas and Kandrour will remain available. This route has been kept open for the movement of heavy vehicles during the period of the road restriction.

The cancellation of the President’s visit to the Shri Naina Devi temple has also led to changes in the arrangements at the temple complex. After the temple visit was cancelled, the restrictions imposed by the administration, including restrictions on the entry of devotees into the temple premises, were removed.

Devotees arriving from across the country will therefore be able to visit Maa Naina Devi on 6 October as they do on other days. The special restrictions at the temple related to the earlier proposed visit have been withdrawn.