Security stepped up in Bhubaneswar ahead of PM's visit

Bhubaneswar: Authorities have stepped up security in Odisha ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the state capital Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Manmohan Singh is slated to arrive in the evening and spend the night at the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of state governor M.C. Bhandare.

The prime minister is scheduled to inaugurate the 99th Indian Science Congress (ISC) at KIIT University complex here Tuesday.

He is also expected to visit the Congress office here before flying back to Delhi.

A police officer said all necessary arrangements have been made as per the prescribed guidelines. "We have conducted several meetings of police personals. A mock drill was held Sunday to check the security preparedness," he told IANS.

Hundreds of policemen have been deployed around the venue and at strategic locations of the city.

The Jan 3-7 Congress, the country's largest such event, focuses on the theme 'Science and Technology for Inclusive Innovation-Role of Women'.

Over 15,000 delegates, including 500 foreign scientists and several Nobel laureates, are expected to participate in the five-day event.

The event will comprise technical sessions, plenary sessions, vision talks, panel discussions, public lectures, pride of India expo, children science congress and women science congress.

The KIIT and the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) are jointly hosting the ISC.