Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at 9:15 am in the city on Monday to participate in two private functions, including the platinum jubilee celebrations of the leading Tamil daily ‘Daily Thanthi’ to be held at the Centenary Hall of the University of Madras. Police have made elaborate security arrangements ahead of his visit.

He is expected to participate in a meeting of BJP cadre at the airport premises after being received by dignitaries, including Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. Later, he will attend the Tamil daily’s function at 10.20 am and is expected to spend an hour there.

Modi will then head to RA Puram to attend the marriage of the daughter of senior IAS officer and joint secretary in the PMO, T V Somanathan, sources said, adding he would return to Delhi after completing his engagements in the city.

BJP leader Muralidar Rao told the New Indian Express that the Prime Minister will also meet DMK chief Karunanidhi at his residence at 12:30 pm.

The police have thrown a security blankets over the airport, University of Madras and Mayor Ramanathan Hall at RA Puram, besides strengthening vigil on the PM’s route.

“Under the supervision of city Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan, five Additional Commissioners, six Joint Commissioners, 43 Deputy Commissioners and 80 Assistant Commissioners are making security arrangements with a round-the-clock vigil,” a senior police officer said.

The officer added that traffic had been diverted around University of Madras, which has been cordoned off by placing barricades.

Arrangements have also been made for intensive frisking of the participants at the Daily Thanthi platinum jubilee event. Besides police, intelligence sleuths from the city and the State are also keeping vigil. Central intelligence agencies too have been keeping their eye on Chennai ahead of the PM’s visit.