The State has come under a security blanket for President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit tomorrow. The President will be here for the passing-out parade at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) at St. Thomas Mount in Chennai.

Tight security is in place at the international, domestic and cargo sections of the Coimbatore and Chennai airports, round-the-clock. Apart from personnel belonging to the Central armed forces, the Tamil Nadu police too is involved in providing security at the airport and on the road routes the President is scheduled to travel.

The President will also be attending an event at the Defence Service Staff College in Wellington, Nilgiris. Later Mr. Mukherjee will be staying in Raj Bhavan to leave fro the OTA ceremony on Saturday.

A mock drill was conducted this morning to check the safety measures that are in place. The routes from the airport to Raj Bhavan and from here to the academy will see heavy presence of gunmen.

Mr. Mukherjee will be the third President to review the ceremonial passing-out parade where 272 men and lady cadets will become officers in the Army. Earlier R. Venkataraman and Pratibha Patil had presided over the function.

The Officers Training School established in January 1963, was redesignated as Officers Training Academy after its completion of 25 years in January 1988. Till now 24,704 general cadets and 2,276 lady cadets have been commissioned from OTA, Chennai.