Vijayawada: Vijayawada is all set to host the state-level 79th Independence Day celebrations on today at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, with chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu attending as the chief guest. Despite heavy rains over the past two days, meticulous arrangements have been completed under the supervision of NTR district collector Dr G Lakshmisha to ensure the parade and festivities proceed smoothly.With the weather department forecasting possible showers on the day, officials have installed rain-proof tents and taken measures to prevent waterlogging. As the stadium ground had turned muddy due to continuous rains, gravel and chips were spread to create a safe, smooth surface for the parade. Multiple departments, including the Revenue, Police, and Municipal Corporation, worked in close coordination to complete the preparations.Collector Dr Lakshmisha, VMC commissioner HM Dhyanachandra, and Vijayawada RDO K Chaitanya personally inspected the venue alongside officials from various departments.ASP Kakinada P Devaraj Manish will serve as parade commander, with APSP 6th Battalion assistant commandant PV Hanumanthu as second-in-command and APSP 1st Battalion’s G Raghu as parade adjutant. The parade will feature contingents from APSP battalions across the state, Telangana State Police, NCC boys and girls, Social Welfare Residential Schools, Bharat Scouts and Guides, AP Red Cross Society, and the AP military welfare department.In the brass bands section, units from Kurnool, Kakinada, Vizianagaram, Mangalagiri, Venkatagiri, Bhakarapet, Anantapur, Visakhapatnam, and SR CPL Hyderabad will perform, along with the APSP Mangalagiri pipe band.Top state officials including DGP Harish Kumar Gupta, chief secretary K. Vijayanand and other officials will attend. Ministers, MPs, MLAs, judges, and district-level officers are also expected to participate. Bandar Road and key government buildings in Vijayawada have been adorned with decorative lighting to mark the occasion.Extending his greetings, CM Chandrababu Naidu urged citizens to honor the sacrifices of freedom fighters by safeguarding national unity. Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, IT minister Nara Lokesh and former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also conveyed their Independence Day wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh.
