Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the new airport in Chandigarh.
Arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Chandigarh visit today include a cremation ground being turned into a temporary parking lot, next to a public park where he will make an address.
The ground will be open for cremations only after 1 pm, once the Prime Minister's programme has finished. PM Modi is scheduled to speak at around noon.
The Prime Minister inaugurated a new airport in Mohali a short while ago and he criss-crosses Chandigarh in a packed schedule that includes a function at a premier medical institute, before he heads for the public meeting at around noon.
That has meant massive traffic restrictions, with tight security and orders prohibiting assembly of people in most parts of Chandigarh under section 144 of the criminal procedure code.
Schools and colleges are closed to avoid inconvenience to students. But ambulance services to Chandigarh's main hospital the Post Graduate Institute or PGI are expected to be affected and liaison officers have been deputed in and around the hospital along with policemen to assist ambulances in reaching there.
The Chandigarh police has issued an advisory asking people to avoid entering the city from Zirakpur in Punjab and instead enter through Panchkula.
At least 4,500 police personnel, including commandos and a SWAT team have been deployed in the city today.
10 local Congress leaders who planned to greet PM Modi with black flags have been detained last night.