Preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground have run into an unexpected hurdle after the Special Protection Group (SPG) raised security concerns and asked organisers to dismantle the nearly completed stage. The elite security agency has insisted that the ground beneath the structure must be thoroughly scanned before construction can continue, triggering last-minute anxiety among BJP organisers just days before the scheduled event.
The rally, planned for March 14, is set to mark the concluding event of the BJP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in West Bengal. Work to transform the sprawling Brigade ground into a major political gathering venue began last Sunday. The event will include both an administrative programme—where the Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several projects—and a massive public rally.
However, during an inspection visit on Tuesday, SPG officials informed BJP leaders overseeing the arrangements that the stage would need to be dismantled. According to security officials, the soil beneath the platform must undergo a detailed inspection using advanced scanning technology to rule out any potential threat to the Prime Minister’s safety.
SPG Orders Brigade Rally Stage Removal Ahead of Modi’s Kolkata Visit
The stage had already taken significant shape under a large hangar structure erected at the venue. The covering above the stage and on its sides had been installed, and the main platform—constructed with iron pillars and wooden planks—was largely ready. In spite of this progress, SPG authorities emphasised that ensuring complete security clearance of the ground was essential before the structure could remain in place.
BJP leaders supervising the arrangements, including Raju Banerjee, held extended discussions with SPG officials at the site on Tuesday afternoon. Security personnel inspected the hangar area and the rear section of the stage before informing the construction team that the structure must be removed temporarily for security checks.
Sources within the party indicated that while the stage structure may have to be dismantled, the large protective hangar covering the venue might remain intact.
With only three days left before the Prime Minister’s visit, the development has caused concern among organisers about meeting the tight timeline. The stage itself took several days to build, and dismantling it now means it will need to be reconstructed after the security clearance is granted.
Despite the setback, BJP leaders remain optimistic that the preparations will be completed on time. Party organisers say that other critical tasks—such as installing bamboo barricades, dividing the ground into designated blocks for crowd management, and setting up temporary poles with sound systems across the field—are already well underway.
They believe rebuilding the stage will take comparatively less time once the SPG finishes its inspection and grants approval.
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