Staff of 3 Services to present guard of honour to new Governor

Vijayawada: Chief Secretary L V Subrahmanyam said here on Saturday that new Governor Viswabhushan Harichandan would be accorded guard of honour by staff belonging to the three services of the military when he arrives at the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday.

The Chief Secretary personally supervised the arrangements being made at the former Chief Minister's camp office which would be converted into the residence of the Governor on Saturday.

Director General of Police Gautam Sawang, GAD secretary RP Sisodia, Commissioner of Police Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, Governor's secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena, Municipal Commissioner Prasanna Venkatesh, Protocol Director Praveen Kumar, Sub-Collector Misha Singh, and others accompanied him.

The Chief Secretary said that the Governor would arrive at Vijayawada airport after having darshan of Lord Balaji at Tirupati on Tuesday, where the Chief Minister, the Ministers and senior officials would welcome him. The three services of the Armed forces would accord guard of honour to the new Governor.

The Governor after having darshan of Goddess Kanakadurga atop Indrakeeladri would stay overnight at the Raj Bhavan. The Chief Secretary said that the DGP is personally looking after the security details and following his suggestions security posts were set up on four sides of the Raj Bhavan with necessary lighting facility.

The Governor would be sworn in on Wednesday at 11.30 am and high tea would be served to the VIPs later. Since there is dearth of space on the premises of Raj Bhavan the vehicles of the Governor and the Chief Minister would only be allowed inside and the rest of the Ministers and other dignitaries would be taken inside in battery cars.

The Chief Secretary said that the personnel from Raj Bhavan at Hyderabad reached Vijayawada and they would be entrusted with the responsibilities by Governor's secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena. Mukesh Kumar stated that the officials were striving to tide over all obstacles.

"Efforts are on to launch an official website for the Raj Bhavan," he said. Residential facilities need to be provided to the personal staff of the Governor and that would be taken care of in due course. Kalankari Designs for which Andhra Pradesh is famous would be used in the Raj Bhavan for decoration, he said. GAD secretary RP Sisodia said that the personnel should be careful in implementing the protocol.