Kolkata: Brigade takes rain cover for new cabinet swearing-in

KOLKATA: With rain clouds looming over the city, round-the-clock preparations are underway at the Brigade Parade Ground to make the sprawling venue rain-proof for Saturday's oath-taking ceremony of Bengal's first BJP government.

Heavy showers on Thursday and Friday left large sections of Maidan slushy and waterlogged, forcing the authorities and event planners to rapidly scale up rain-protection measures to ensure that the mega event proceeds without any disruptions.

As a contingency measure, the BJP has also kept Netaji Indoor Stadium ready as an alternative venue.

At the centre of the preparations is a massive 3 lakh square feet waterproof hangar tent erected to provide cover in case of rain. Additional tarpaulins have been kept ready to expand the covered area, if needed.

More than 1,000 workers are working continuously in shifts to restore the rain-hit ground. Seating capacity has been increased from 50,000 to 80,000 barely a day before the ceremony.

The main dais has been divided into three sections - one will accommodate Modi, Shah and CMs and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states. Another section has been reserved for the governor and official formalities, while the third will host CM-designate Suvendu Adhikari and his ministers.