Preparations for Republic Day began at Gandhi Maidan, after the human chain event, on Saturday evening.

The district administration will keep the area closed for the public from January 24 ahead of the event, and extra manpower has been deployed to prepare the area after both Prakash Utsav and the human chain event left the 62 acres of land in a mess.

"Preparations for Republic Day began on Saturday at 3pm soon after the human chain event got over," said Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal. "Gandhi Maidan gates will open on January 26 at 3pm when the event comes to an end," he told The Telegraph.

Apart from the usual litter, a few Prakash Utsav tents are still standing, and the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been instructed to dismantle them and clean up the area as quickly as possible. Construction of barricades and watch towers for the parade began in haste on Sunday.

"Every year we usually get at least 15 days to prepare for Republic Day, but this time due to back-to-back events, we do not have the same amount of time," said Agarwal. "Instructions have been given accordingly, and I have asked the PMC to fill up potholes and level the ground as the final rehearsal for the parade will take place on January 24." Agarwal added that he would personally monitor the preparations.

Security at the ground on the 26th is also a concern as governor Ram Nath Kovind and chief minister Nitish Kumar are expected to be in attendance. Magistrates and police personnel will be deputed, while visitors will be frisked on entry. Additionally door-frame metal detectors will be placed at all of the eight gates, and the event will be monitored by CCTV.

A visitors gallery has been erected at the ground, and work is currently underway for a makeshift tent where senior officials of the government, and bureaucrats and their guests, will be seated.

The cabinet coordination department has approved various tableaux displays and themes from eleven departments and their agencies this year.

Prohibition is the chosen theme for the beverage corporation tableau, while the Public Grievance Redressal Act will be the theme of the information and public relations department. Start-ups and Nalanda are the chosen themes for the industries department and art, culture and youth affairs department respectively

The Bihar Education Project Council, Bihar rural livelihood promotion society (also known as Jeevika), cooperative department and social welfare department will also display tableaux of their choice.