It's the big day today. Large hordes of the Telangana movement have the chance today to raise the pitch of their cause, with the Telangana March (or Sagara Haaram) at Necklace Road.
The government has been understandably jittery about the Telangana march, and has set up massive security arrangements for the day. 10,000 police personnel have been deployed for security. In Medak, Siddipet, important leaders have been arrested. TRS leader T Harish Rao has asked for the immediate release of those arrested.
Telangana activists are also furious that the government has stopped the movement of people from Telangana districts to Hyderabad for the march. For instance, 12 express trains and 25 passenger trains bound from the Telangana region to Hyderabad have been cancelled. Searches were being conducted aboard the Satavahana Express in Mahabubabad (Warangal). Also, intense scrutiny of vehicles entering Hyderabad is on.
There are several traffic restrictions in place in Hyderabad as well. The area around Necklace Road, including Buddha Bhavan and Khairatabad, is expected to be near impossible for regular commuters to travel on.
Cinema halls, shops and multiplexes in Hyderabad are being shut down today. Police claim hidden cameras have been set up all over the city to keep watch on suspicious elements.
Those participating in the rally have three places to park at - Hockey Stadium, Parade Grounds, Gymkhana Grounds. Thousands of vehicles are expected in these locations as the day progresses.
Meanwhile, in Andhra areas such as Vijayawada and Eluru, rallies in support of a united Andhra Pradesh are set to be organized.