Crime Line : No room at the Taj: City pulls out all stops to host Obama

RACING AGAINST TIME: The BMC is training its resources on the sretch between Bandra and Nariman Point

Mateen Hafeez & Reeba Zachariah | TNN

Mumbai: In the first week of November, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel could resemble a fortress when the most powerful man in the world checks in there. US President Barack Obama will make the hotel his home for two days—most likely November 5 and 6—during his brief visit to Mumbai. Authorities have booked almost the entire 604-room hotel, and tourists may be told that there are no rooms available for them.

According to state government sources, almost the entire heritage wing—which was the most damaged section of the property during the 26/11 siege—has been booked, as have the hotel’s restaurants and banquet rooms.

“No visitor will be allowed inside the hotel during Obama’s stay,’’ said a state government official. US authorities are also ensuring that there is restricted public movement in and around the hotel during the duration of the President’s stay.

The US President’s staff and a topnotch US delegation will be staying at Oberoi Hotel, Grand Hyatt and ITC Grand Maratha. A team of Obama’s personal chefs will be part of the delegation, and the President’s meals will be cooked only by them. From Mumbai, Obama is expected to head to Amritsar on November 7.

US pledges addl $2 bn military aid to Pakistan

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Friday announced an additional $2 bn in military aid to Pakistan, to be disbursed over five years, but expressed reservations about Islamabad’s dalliance with terror outfits in its pursuit of security objectives. Close on the heels of $7.5 bn in civilian aid, this will need to be passed by Congress first. TNN P 22

Helicopter may save Obama FROM POTHOLED MUMBAI Civic Officials Take No Chances, Work Overtime To Spruce Up The City
Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials may be working at a feverish pitch to ensurethattheUS Presidentwill be spared a bumpy ride but they are also hoping that the VVIP protocol will kick in, and Barack Obama and his contingent will be transferred directly to the Indian Navy’s helicopter base at SouthMumbai—INS Shikra. “We have been informed by senior officials in Mantralaya that there is a strong possibility the American president will fly directly to Shikra airbase the moment he lands at the international airport on November 5,” said a senior civic official.

The BMC top brass are, however, unsure of the logistics and do not know whether Obama and his team will transfer to a helicopter or not. “The base has multiple capabilities. The president may not even have to use the roads, and this will take care of most of our worries which are ensuring smooth traffic flow and security of the convoy. We are still preparing for all possibilities,” said a civic official.

Both the Indian president and the prime minister have used INS Shikra during visits to Mumbai. It was also used by NSG commandos who were flown in to tackle the siege at Nariman House during the 26/11 terror attack.

The BMC is not taking any chances. Heavy machinery and equipment were deployed at Haji Ali Junction to paint dividers and repair bad patches. Workers were even seen at Marine Drive trying to repair an underground drain that had started leaking early in the morning. At Pedder Road, north-bound traffic was diverted for a few hours to even out a patchy surface.

“We have cordoned off the north-bound lane to carry out our repair work. This side of the road is uneven and patchy due to frequent cave-ins. It requires an urgent patch up as it could slow down traffic flow,” said a worker on the site.

Stress levels—and also the anticipation—are high, as thiswillbeoneofthefewtimes the city is playing host to a VVIP of Obama’s stature. CivicofficialstoldTOIthey are relieved the visit coincides with Diwali. “This is even bigger than the then US President BillClinton’s visittoMumbai. If it had not been a holiday, we would have been forced to announce one in order to manage the chaos on that day,” said an official.

The civic body is training its eyes, and resources, on the approximately 20-km stretch between Bandra andNariman Point. Stretches getting special attention include the Bandra-Worli Sea-Link, Worli Sea-Face, Pedder Road and Marine Drive. Other wellknown points on the route are Hajji Ali junction, Lotus junction and Kemp’s Corner.

It’s worth noting that Rs 25 lakh has been set aside for an “overall renovation plan” of Ward A (Marine Drive, Colaba and Fort).

Monday Recce
Ateam of US officials from the White House and External Affairs Ministry will be arriving on Monday in preparation for US President Barack Obama’s visit to Mumbai. The US consul-general Paul Folmsbee, additional chief secretary (home) Chandra Iyengar, principal secretary (protocol) Sumit Mullick, senior police and government officials met on Friday evening to discuss the agenda. “The White House officials are likely to take a tour of the city,” said a state home department officer.