Delhi today geared up for Republic Day celebrations with a ground-to-air security apparatus put in place to keep a tight vigil and authorities giving final touches for the event which showcases the country's military might and cultural diversity.
Over 25,000 police personnel, including those from paramilitary and sharpshooters from NSG, have been already deployed across the city.
Snipers were deployed at high-rise buildings while CCTVs are keeping a tight vigil on people's movement between Rajpath and Red Fort, the route of the parade which showcases India's military might and cultural diversity.
To maintain air security, the airspace over the capital will remain closed for an hour tomorrow from 11.15 AM to 12.15 PM. Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the NSG are also on the job at various places while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos were keeping a close watch along the route of the eight-kilometre long Republic Day parade from Raisana Hills to Red Fort.
A multi-layer security ring has already been put in place at Rajpath, where President Pranab Mukherjee will unfurl the tricolour and take the salute of marching contingents. Besides the air defence measures, helicopters of the Indian Air Force will hover around Rajpath and all along the route of the parade.
Patrolling in crowded market areas has been intensified and checking and frisking in Metro, railway stations and bus terminals tightened. Security at the IGI airport has also been strengthened in coordination with the CISF. Checking and frisking have also been intensified at all entry points with police setting up barricades to keep a vigil on all those entering the capital.
No vehicles will be allowed to ply on the Rajpath from 6 PM on January 25 while vehicular movement will be affected on Tilak Marg, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg upto Red Fort from 4 am the next day.
Delhi Police Chief Neeraj Kumar with his meeting with police forces in neighbouring states on Tuesday discussed various security arrangements for Republic Day. Senior police officers from Haryana, UP, Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, the services of Delhi Metro will be partially curtailed tomorrow and the 29th of this month on Beating Retreat Ceremony.
An official release issued by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation says that as per instructions by the Delhi Police, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, and Khan Market, Race Course,Barakhamba Road, Mandi House and Pragati Maidan Metro stations will remain closed from 06.00 AM up to 12.30 PM tomorrow.
The release said that the Metro trains will not stop at Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course during this period. However, passengers can use the interchange facility at Rajiv Chowk for lines two and three and Central Secretariat for lines two and six.
The trains in lines three and four will be operated in short loops, from Noida City Centre to Indraprastha, Vaishali to Yamuna Bank and Dwarka Sector 21 to Rajiv Chowk. Operations will be normal on all lines after the parade is over. In addition, all Delhi Metro parking lots will remain closed from 2 p.m. today to 2 p.m. tomorrow.
