Armed cops lock down Noida as UP CM visits

The whole of Noida became a fortress, as UP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath defied the 'Noida jinx' and arrived in the city on Saturday to check arrangements ahead of the Prime Minister's Christmas visit here. Hundreds of armed policemen were deployed with dog squads, bomb detection teams and snipers to ensure his security.

Adityanath landed at the helipad at Botanical Garden and reached the Botanical Garden Metro station, where the PM will be arriving on December 25 to inaugurate Kalkaji-Botanical Garden metro line.

According to senior police officers, more than 1,500 armed police and paramilitary personnel were deployed for Adityanath's security. Before his arrival, Noida Police's dog squad and bomb detection teams repeatedly sanitised the area which the CM was scheduled to visit. Police sources also said that snipers were also stationed at high rises to keep a hawk-eye vigil on the movement of the CM's convoy.

Principal Secretary (Industrial Development) Alok Sinha, ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar are stationed here and are supervising security arrangements. The SPG would take over the programme sites and a multi-layered security arrangement has been put in place.

Ahead of the CM's visit, traffic police had also advised commuters to avoid the Botanical Garden to Okhla Barrage road on Saturday afternoon.