Grand preparations for Modi’s Hisar rally; may cost Rs 10 crore
Massive preparations are underway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Hisar on April 14, with the total cost of the event expected to touch nearly Rs 10 crore, according to sources.
Modi would flag off a flight to Ayodhya and then address the public gathering at the rally venue just outside the airport.
The sources associated with the arrangements revealed that Rs 6.24 crore has been allocated for arrangements such as tentage, sound systems, food, and parking.
The tentage alone is estimated to cost Rs 4.12 crore. The Haryana Civil Aviation Department is footing the bill for these expenses, though the rally is being jointly coordinated by the Centre and the state government.
The event, expected to draw a crowd of approximately 40,000 people, will feature extensive infrastructure. Tentage arrangements include waterproof tents spread across 15 sectors at the rally venue located just outside the Hisar airport, along with 25,000 chairs, the sources said. A massive waterproof German tent is being set up across 3.5 lakh square feet for the rally.
To ensure smooth attendance, about 500 Haryana Roadways buses have been deployed to ferry attendees from various districts. As part of the hospitality effort, 40,000 food packets—each costing Rs 100—have been prepared for distribution. These packets will be served to the visitors in the buses during their transportation to the rally.
In addition to the main event expenses, several state departments such as PWD (B&R), Urban Local Bodies, and others are contributing additional funds for associated arrangements. The Urban Local Bodies Department alone has sought a special grant of Rs 1.72 crore for mainly cleanliness and beautification work in preparation for the Prime Minister’s visit.
The sources said that the transport charges for the Haryana Roadways buses will be covered by the Haryana Public Relations Department on a per-ticket, per-seat basis.
Meanwhile, the entire Hisar town is being spruced up with roads being re-tarred, walls painted, footpaths decorated, and roundabouts beautified to match the event.
A 2,000-meter area around the Hisar Airport has been declared a ‘Red Zone’ by the District Magistrate, with a complete ban on flying activities in the zone. Around 500 workers are engaged day and night in preparations. Over 15,000 chairs have already been placed under the tent.
Though the dust storm and rain hampered the tent setting up work at the venue as the already set up tent collapsed at many points, the workers say that they would re-erect the same tonight itself.
BOX – A controversy erupted after a letter was issued to the District Education Officer (DEO), assigning TGT and PGT school teachers the task of distributing food packets, with some being asked to manage between 5,000 to 10,000 packets each. The Haryana School Teachers’ Association objected strongly and announced a protest at the Hisar headquarters on April 16. Following the backlash, the administration clarified that teachers will not be involved in food distribution. Now, the Panchayat Department will handle the counting and loading of food packets onto transport vehicles.
Haryana Tribune