By Bizodsha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 21, 2021: President Ram Nath Kovind, accompanied by his wife, arrived in Odisha on Saturday on a three-day visit from March 20 to 22.

Kovind and the first lady were welcomed at the airport by Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi.

During his three-day visit, the President will grace the 18th annual convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela and inaugurate a Super Specialty Hospital at Rourkela Steel Plant on March 21. He is also scheduled to visit Lord Jagannath Temple and Konark Sun Temple in Puri district on March 22.

On the last day of his visit, Kovind will pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath in Puri and visit Sun Temple. He will arrive at the pilgrim city at 11am. Earlier in 2018, Kovind had visited Puri.

The first citizen will visit Konark Sun Temple and India Oil Foundation Trust Interpretation Centre near the temple at 4 pm. After the Konark visit, Kovind will return to Bhubaneswar and fly back to Delhi the same evening.

“As many as 40 platoon of forces and 13 SPs and additional SP rank officials and 250 other officers have been deployed in view of the President’s visit. We held meeting with the temple administration twice. Besides, spot rehearsal and other security review were also conducted as per requirement,” said Puri SP, Kanwar Vishal Singh.