The national capital is all set to host the 77th Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday, as the Delhi Police and security agencies go all out to ensure a strict vigil in the city.
Officials said robust arrangements have been made in the wake of the recent communal clashes at Nuh. These include 1,000 facial recognition cameras, anti-drone systems, and over 10,000 police personnel keeping vigil over the Red Fort, from where the Prime Minister will address the nation.
Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak said Independence Day will be celebrated with full enthusiasm this year with no COVID-19 restrictions in place. "We will also coordinate and share real-time information with other agencies to provide security. The Delhi Police will also use technology systems for security purposes. We are on our toes and doing rehearsals," Pathak said.
These include video analytic systems in and around Red Fort and other strategic locations. Besides anti-drone systems, anti-terror measures including the installation of air defence guns, snipers, elite SWAT commandos and sharpshooters, are also in place.
"The Delhi Police has also intensified patrolling and anti-sabotage checks. Hotels, guest houses, parking lots and restaurants are being checked and verification of tenants and servants is being carried out. Meetings are also being held with RWA (resident welfare associations) and MWA (market welfare associations) members," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi told PTI.
Prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 have been imposed in areas such as Rajghat, ITO and Red Fort ahead of Independence Day. "Given Independence Day celebrations, Section 144 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) has been invoked in areas nearby Rajghat, ITO, Red Fort etc. No gathering of any kind is permitted in these areas," police posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Traffic curbs
Traffic curbs are in place ahead of the celebrations in Delhi. The Traffic Police have banned the entry of commercial and heavy vehicles from Noida and Ghaziabad towards Delhi from tonight. "From the night of August 14 at 10 pm, the entry of heavy and medium goods vehicles (vehicles carrying goods) will be stopped from Delhi's border, and entry will start only after the programme ends on the next day, August 15," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) SS Yadav told ANI.
The vehicles will be regulated and diverted towards the alternate routes. As many as 3,000 traffic police personnel will be deployed to regulate the traffic. There will be controlled movement of vehicles near the Red Fort on some parts of JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, and Ring Road.
Besides, special parking arrangements are also in place for common people and diplomats from different countries who will be coming to the Red Fort to attend the celebrations.
