Barack Obama's visit for Republic Day: Security beefed up, lockdown of Rajpath from January 10

New Delhi: The security arrangements for this year’s Republic Day are going to be “unprecedented” with a lockdown of Rajpath from January 10, the Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP), New Delhi district, Vijay Singh, told ET on Wednesday. The entire Raisina Hill area, the seat of the government including over two dozen government offices, will be closed from January 23. The government is also expecting a far bigger crowd this time, given the presence of the US President Barack Obama – who is the chief guest – and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself

“We are expecting a bigger crowd this time. Definitely the scale of arrangements will be bigger and more personnel will be deployed,” Delhi Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander told ET, adding multiple drones will be used for aerial surveillance as well.

The Central Public Works Department is on overdrive as well, anticipating crowds in excess of 2.5 lakh for the Republic Day function. “The previous Republic day parades had made arrangements for 2.5 lakh people, but this time we are expecting a bigger turnout.

CPWD works on the Ministry of Defence’s instructions, and we will do the needful,” CPWD chief engineer Veer Sain said. DCP Singh said there will be at least “20-25% extra deployment” of police personnel for the R-Day parade.