President Ram Nath Kovind was received by Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and others when he arrived in the city to participate in the Presidential Fleet Review (PFR), at the Naval Air Station, INS Dega, here on Sunday evening.
Assembly Speaker Thammineni Seetharam, district in-charge Minister K. Kannababu, Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao, Mayor G. Hari Venkata Kumari, Zilla Parishad Chairperson J. Subhadra, Government Whip B. Mutyala Naidu, District Collector A. Mallikarjuna, and Vice-Admiral Biwajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC), were present.
Members of Parliament M.V.V. Satyanarayana, G. Madhavi, and B.V. Satyavathi; MLA P.G.V.R. Naidu, Special Chief Secretary (Education) B. Rajasekhar, Additional DGP (L & O) A. Ravishankar, Principal Secretary (R&B) M.T. Krishna Babu, DIG L.K.V. Ranga Rao, Police Commissioner Manish Kumar Sinha, Superintendent of Police B. Krishna Rao, Protocol and Deputy Secretary M. Balasubramanyam Reddy, Joint Collectors M. Venugopal Reddy and P. Arun Kumar, VMRDA Commissioner Venkata Ramana Reddy, and Paderu Sub-Collector Abhishek were among those present to receive the President.
Earlier, the Chief Minister arrived at the airport by a special flight at 4.50 p.m. to receive the President. After receiving the President, the Chief Minister left for Vijayawada.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is fully geared up for the PFR to be organised in the city on February 21 (Monday).
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), who arrived in Visakhapatnam on February 19, reviewed the overall preparations for the PFR.
The 12th edition of the PFR is being conducted as part of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, being celebrated as ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
Final rehearsal
The final rehearsal of the PFR was reviewed by Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta on Sunday morning.
Mr. Kovind, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, embarked on the Presidential Yacht, INS Sumitra, will review the Indian Naval Fleet comprising more than 60 ships and submarines, and 55 aircraft on Monday.
Ships from all the Naval Commands and the Andaman and Nicobar Command are anchored in four columns. The Presidential Yacht will sail past 44 ships anchored in four lanes, and will be accorded the ceremonial salute, one by one.
The participating platforms in the review include the newly-inducted combat platforms, the latest stealth destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam and INS Vela, a Kalvari-Class submarine commissioned into the Indian Navy recently.
IN Ships Chennai, Delhi, Teg and three Shivalik-Class frigates, and three Kamorta-Class ASW Corvettes will also form part of the review.
Ships from the Coast Guard, Shipping Corporation of India, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences are also taking part.
A Composite Flypast by Chetaks, ALH, Sea Kings, KAMOVs, Dorniers, IL-38SD, P8I, Hawks and MiG 29K will also form part of the review.
It is pertinent to mention that 47 out the 60 ships and submarines participating have been built in the Indian shipyards, thus showcasing indigenous capabilities and progress towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
