In a sweeping security move, the Dibrugarh district administration has imposed a complete ban on all drone operations ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit on December 21 to launch a landmark Rs 11,000-crore fertiliser project in Namrup.
The order, issued on Friday by Additional District Magistrate Pranjal Boruah under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, prohibits the flying of any Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) within a 2-km radius of key locations. These include the venue of the foundation stone-laying ceremony at the Assam Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (AVFCCL) plant, the nearby helipad, Assam Medical College Hospital, and Duliajan Oil Hospital.
The ban will be enforced from 6 am on December 20 until 6 pm on December 22. Authorities cited “potential threat to public safety, security and law and order” as the primary reason for the immediate preventive measure. Any violation will attract penal action under relevant legal provisions, though exemptions are granted for official or emergency drones with prior permission.
The high-security directive coincides with PM Modi’s visit to lay the foundation stone for a transformative Ammonia-Urea complex. Promoted as the single largest urea-producing unit in North-East India, the AVFCCL project—a collaborative venture with the Assam government holding a 40% stake—aims to produce 12.7 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually to meet regional agricultural needs.
Elaborate preparations are underway for the Prime Minister’s programme, which includes a public rally expected to draw around 1.24 lakh people. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have reviewed arrangements, with officials focusing extensively on security, logistics, and crowd management for the high-profile event.
