Preparations continued through the night at Brigade Parade Ground as organisers rushed to make the venue rain-proof ahead of Saturday's oath-taking ceremony of West Bengal's first BJP government.
With rain clouds hanging over the city and heavy showers lashing Kolkata over the past two days, large stretches of the Maidan turned muddy and waterlogged, prompting authorities to step up emergency arrangements at the sprawling venue.
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Massive waterproof setup at Brigade
At the centre of the preparations is a giant waterproof hangar tent spread across nearly 3 lakh square feet. The structure has been designed to shield attendees and guests in case of further rain during the swearing-in ceremony, per a Times of India report.
Organisers have also kept additional tarpaulins ready to expand the covered area if weather conditions worsen.
More than 1,000 workers have been deployed in shifts to restore the ground after the rain, TOI reported. Teams continued levelling muddy patches and clearing waterlogged sections to ensure smooth movement inside the venue.
Seating capacity increased
Despite the weather concerns, the BJP has expanded the seating arrangements significantly. Per the TOI report, the capacity at Brigade Parade Ground was increased from 50,000 to 80,000 less than a day before the ceremony.
The event is expected to witness the presence of several senior BJP leaders and chief ministers from party-ruled states.
Main stage divided into three sections
The main dais at the venue has been divided into three separate sections to accommodate different groups of dignitaries and officials.
One section has been reserved for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from BJP-ruled states.
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Another section has been designated for the Governor and official proceedings linked to the oath-taking ceremony.
The third section will accommodate Chief Minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari and members of the new Cabinet.
As a backup plan, the BJP has also kept Netaji Indoor Stadium ready as an alternative venue in case weather conditions deteriorate further, TOI reported.
