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.
Accused of getting EVM in BJP leader's car, Election Commission suspended 4 officers
After the second round of voting in Assam, the Election Commission has suspended 4 officials after being accused of carrying EVMs in a car belonging to a BJP leader. One of these 4 officers is also a
Forcibly applying colors on Holi is prohibited, and action will be taken if people go out on bikes in groups; Police have issued order
Hyderabad and Cyberabad police have issued a guideline regarding Holi. According to the police notification, there will be a ban on forcibly applying color to any person in Hyderabad city and
US to support Reforms in India: Treasury Secretary Lew
Mumbai, Feb 11 (IANS) US Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew Wednesday expressed his country's commitment to support growth and reforms in India and encourage greater opening of the Indian economy to
INTACH documenting traditional Jagannath pilgrimage route
Bhubaneswar, March 12 (IANS) The INTACH has started listing and documenting a 484-km-long traditional route that was once used by thousands of pilgrims to visit the Jagannath temple in Odisha, a
Missile case: Pakistan's response appreciated, questions being asked to India
"Anything that enters the airspace of any country is considered an attack. In such a situation, the defense rules and laws say that in case of a missile coming, you should also retaliate. So do not do
LIC IPO: The country's largest IPO will open today, here is the complete information related to the issue from the investment process
Today is a big day for the IPO market as well as for those investors, who were waiting for the country's biggest IPO for a long time. Yes, LIC's IPO is going to open for subscription in a while. Let
India Russia Relations: Russia's blunt reply to western countries, said- India will continue to supply crude oil
Russia's supply of crude oil to India will continue and bilateral trade will set new records. There will be no obstacle between the two countries. Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said in a
IND Vs ENG 1st Test Day 2 Tea: England's position is very strong due to Root's double century, Team India on backfoot
India vs England: Thanks to the fifth double century of the career of captain Joe Root (unbeaten 209), England have scored 454 for four in their first innings till the second day of the first Test
AAP received black money as funds: Jaitley
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday accused the AAP of receiving black money, and termed the party a "brilliant propagandist" who wears the "label of honesty" on its
School Reopen: Schools and colleges will open from September 21 across the country, know what is the rule in which state
New Delhi: While unlocking the Corona crisis, the Central Government has permitted to open schools and colleges across the country. After the Central Guidelines for opening school-colleges from
