Rashtrapati Bhavan (Circuit-1) will remain closed for general public from January 21 to 29 due to the upcoming Republic Day Parade and Beating Retreat Ceremony. This information was given in an official statement on Thursday.
Circuit 1 takes visitors on a tour of the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan, showing them the building’s façade, principal rooms and the long drawing room. The ‘Change of Guard’ ceremony held in the courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan is a military tradition. It is held every week to give a new group of President’s bodyguards a chance to take charge.
Meanwhile, a Delhi Police official said that more than 60 companies of paramilitary forces and 10,000 police personnel will be deployed in the national capital for Republic Day and the upcoming assembly elections.
The official said that apart from the deployment of cyber expert officers, surveillance will be done through drones and CCTV in Delhi and vigilance will be increased in busy areas.
Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav told PTI Video, “We recently held an inter-state coordination meeting with various law enforcement agencies to discuss the security arrangements in the national capital. The meeting was presided over by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora.”
Senior police officers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir participated in the meeting.
Special Commissioner of Police Yadav said, “For strong security arrangements for the upcoming Republic Day celebrations and assembly elections, the Home Minister has approved the deployment of a large number of paramilitary forces and cyber expert officers to maintain strict vigil.” ‘
He said that during the meeting, the officials exchanged intelligence on various matters and included investigation in border areas, verification of suspicious persons, checking of tenants, sealing of borders, checking of vehicles, and detection of cash and illicit liquor. It was resolved to strengthen counter-terrorism measures, including surveillance of SIM card sellers and used car dealers.
Yadav said, “Teams of every police district have prepared strong plans for the Republic Day celebrations. Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) of New Delhi, Central Delhi and North Delhi have conducted detailed route surveys, anti-violence checks and increased vigilance in high-congested areas. Special routes, drone surveillance and CCTV surveillance will help in maintaining law and order.”
