New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) Over 1,000 NSG snipers along with 44,000 security personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary forces will be guarding the national capital on Republic Day to ensure a safe visit of US President Barack Obama.
The National Security Guard snipers will maintain a hawk-eye vigil from high-rise buildings within a two-km radius of Rajpath, from where the US president along with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be watching the Republic Day parade.
Police said the remaining 44,000 security personnel -- around 10,000 from the paramilitary forces and 30,000 from Delhi Police -- will be deployed on the streets of the capital starting 5 a.m. Jan 26.
Sources said the central, north and New Delhi districts will be manned by over 20,000 security personnel.
Around 20,000 personnel will be deployed at specific locations from Jan 25, the day Obama arrives in Delhi and the number will almost double Jan 26, Delhi Police said.
Around 15,000 newly-installed CCTV cameras will be used to keep watch in areas where Obama's cavalcade will move as also some other roads and markets.
Rajpath, the three-km stretch which is the main venue of the Republic Day parade, has nearly 160 CCTV cameras. One camera has been installed every 18 metres.
A Delhi Police official, who did not want to be named, said camera footage may be shared with the US Secret Service.
Officials said that as part of heightened security arrangements, the no-fly zone for civilian aircraft will extend to a 500-km radius of Delhi Jan 26 and will cover cities such as Agra and Jaipur, and even areas along the border with Pakistan.
The radius of the no-fly zone for earlier Republic Day functions used to be 300 km, they said.
A seven-layer security ring will guard the enclosure that would be used by Obama, Mukherjee and Modi.
The enclosure will be bullet-proof as the US president will be in an open air setting for over one-and-a-half hours, something unprecedented in his visit to a foreign country, officials said.
Before Obama's plane lands Jan 25 at the Delhi airport, the area will be taken over by Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel and US Secret Service agents.
India Gate and Rajpath have already been shut for people and the area is under constant guard by security personnel.
The airspace over the capital will be monitored by special radars, they added.
Security arrangements at ITC Maurya, where Obama will be staying during his three-day visit, are being monitored on a daily basis.
Delhi Metro Friday said services would be partially curtailed Jan 26 as part of security arrangements for Republic Day. It said all Delhi Metro parking lots will remain closed from 6 a.m. Jan 25 until 2 p.m. Jan 26.
Entry and exit at the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan Metro stations will remain closed from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m Jan 26, while the entry and exit at Patel Chowk and Race Course stations will be closed from 8.45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Mandi House and Pragati Maidan stations will also be closed for people for one hour between 10.45 a.m. and 11.45 a.m., a Delhi Metro official said.
'Hooda wrote the entire script of this conspiracy', Brij Bhushan Singh furious over Vinesh-Bajrang joining Congress
BJP leader and former MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh has launched a scathing attack on Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joining the Congress. Former WFI President and BJP leader Brij
Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis government cabinet expansion date fixed, know how many ministers will take oath
The date of expansion of the cabinet of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra has been fixed. According to sources, this program will be held on July 20. Till now there was
Mukherjee calls for ingenious solutions to end poverty
New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said India possessed the potential to acquire a leading edge in innovation, and called for generating ingenious solutions to
Kuldeep Sen is confident of good performance in NZ: said- thanks to those who supported me in difficult times, I will prove myself
After strong performances in Ranji... Irani... and India-A, Kuldeep Sen has been selected in Team India for the tour of New Zealand. Kuldeep is ready to prove himself on the fast and bouncy wickets of
South Africa-New Zealand semi-final restarts after rain delay
Auckland, March 24 (IANS) Play restarted after a spurt of showers stopped the South Africa-New Zealand cricket World Cup semifinal at the Eden Park here on Tuesday.The match has been reduced to 43
Before FIFA World Cup 2022, thousands of workers were evicted in Qatar's capital Doha, this big reason came to the fore
In Qatar's capital Doha, apartment blocks of thousands of foreign workers living in the same area were evacuated. There will be arrangements for the stay of football fans during the World Cup. Workers
Change of power in Afghanistan: Mullah Baradar's first statement after the capture of Kabul - did not expect that such a quick and easy victory would be achieved
Whatever was feared in Afghanistan, it happened. The Taliban also captured the capital, Kabul. Three very important developments took place on Sunday. First- President Ashraf Ghani and Vice President
One Nation One Election: Election Commission's reaction on One Nation One Election, What did CEC Rajeev Kumar say?
The discussion about 'One Nation, One Election' is hot across the country. In this discussion, there is talk of holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Amid uproar over the
Himachal's art and culture will get a boost during G20 Summit, PM Modi will give special gifts to global leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present Chamba Rumal, Kangra Miniature Paintings, Kinnauri Shawl, and Himachali to global leaders in the upcoming G20 to promote the art and culture of Himachal
Textile Industry: Ministry of Textiles approves 23 research projects worth Rs 60 crore, here are the details
The Textiles Ministry approved 23 strategic research projects worth about Rs 60 crore in the areas of Specialty Fibers, Sustainable Textiles, Geotextiles, Mobiltech, and Sports Textiles. These
