Puducherry, April 19 : on Home Minister Amit Shah, who will be visiting Puducherry on April 24, for the first time after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in alliance with All India N R Congress in the on Territory, will be laying foundation stones for several projects including high-profile projects under Smart City programme. According to highly placed sources here, though the final programme schedule was yet to be comm cated by the on Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah would be attending a host of private, official and party related functions during his one-day visit. The Home Minister will reach Puducherry on Sunday morning and will head to the Pondicherry versity to inaugurate the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of poet, philosopher and nationalist Sri Aurobindo. The programme is being organised by the Sri Aurobindo Society. He is likely to attend a government programme at Kamban Kalaiarangam where he would lay the foundation for a few projects and inaugurate schemes. Shah would lay the foundation for a couple of much-awaited projects including construction of a new Bus Stand on East Coast Road and construction of tenements for the residents of Kumaragurupallam. The sources said the two projects taken up under Smart City programme would cost around Rs. 70 crore and added that preparations are also on to inaugurate the work for long pending Arumparthapuram bypass. It was, however, unlikely that Shah would hold a detailed review of administrative matters as he has got party engagements lined up. According to party sources, the Minister would make a visit to the party office near Indira Gandhi square in the evening. He would hold separate meetings with office bearers, core committee members, legislators and important “personalities” who are supportive of BJP ideology. “Shah may also induct a few people into the party. It will be a politically a crucial visit for the party and organisation,” a senior party leader said. Party leaders are pulling out all the stops to make the visit a grand success. Former legislator and party president V. Saminathan chaired several meetings, including one attended by Home Minister A. Namassivayam and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) S. Selvaganapathy. PAB CS1229
