Air Force One lands in New Delhi on March 19, Sunday. After an overnight stay at the Maurya Sheraton, the president leaves for Dhaka the next morning and returns to Delhi by midnight. Meanwhile, India dons a whole new look.
MARCH 21
Arrival at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Meeting at PM's house.
Wreath-laying at Rajghat.
Lunch with Vajpayee.
State dinner and concert at Hyderabad House.
Night stay at Maurya Sheraton.
Preparations in Delhi: Painted sidewalks, freshly pruned trees and an array of spring blos-soms-Delhi looks almost bridal. South Block has been spruced up. NDMC has removed all roadside hoardings and banners. The bumps on the roads have been cemented. Maurya Sheraton is booked for three days. Entry banned to Hyderabad House for security reasons.
MARCH 22
Address joint sitting of Parliament.
Embassy reception.
Fly to Agra.
Make speech on environment.
Tour of Taj Mahal.
Fly to Jaipur.
Night stay at Jaipur's Raj Vilas.
Preparations in Agra: ASI has worked round-the-clock to give that extra bit of sheen to the Taj and Agra Fort. Tiles have been laid out in the toilets near the Taj to cover up PWD whitewash. For Clinton's environmental address, generators have been ordered to cope with possible power cuts. 100 rooms booked at the Mughal Sheraton.
MARCH 23
Visit Amer Fort.
Fly to Ranthambore tiger reserve.
Fly back to Jaipur.
Night stay in Jaipur.
Preparations in Jaipur: Raj Vilas Hotel has been booked for two days. Roads leading to Daudalia, 15 km from Jaipur, have been retarred. Here, Clinton will meet women running a dairy cooperative. Security around Ranthambore tiger reserve has been tightened. Roads to Amer Fort tarred again.
MARCH 24
Fly to Hyderabad.
Visit a TB clinic.
Make speech at Cyberabad.
Attend audio-visual presentation by CM Chandrababu Naidu.
Lunch with business leaders.
Fly to Mumbai.
Night stay in Mumbai.
Preparations in Hyderabad: Working day and night, the PWD has cleaned up the city. The state government has relocated an estimated 3,000 beggars on the outskirts of the state capital.
MARCH 25
Meet business leaders in Mumbai.
Address a youth gathering.
Fly to Pakistan.
Preparations in Mumbai: Oberoi booked for three full days for security reasons. Raj Bhawan also readied as a stand-by. BMC has repaired roads and spruced up the city. Lamp-posts along Marine Drive have actually been touched up.
