How Delhi is gearing up ahead of PM Modi’s Independence Day address from Red Fort

India

oi-Deepika S

New
Delhi,
Aug
14:
A
multi-layered
security
cover
has
been
put
in
place
and
facial
recognition
system
(FRS)
cameras
installed
at
the
entry
point
of
the
Red
Fort
from
where
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
will
address
the
nation
on
the
75th
anniversary
of
Independence
Day.

According
to
the
police,
around
7,000
invitees
will
arrive
at
the
Red
Fort,
while
over
10,000
police
personnel
will
be
deployed
around
the
monument
on
Monday.

The
Delhi
Police
has
deployed
over
400
kite
catchers
and
fliers
on
rooftops
and
other
sensitive
locations
in
the
fort
area
to
counter
any
threats
from
sub-conventional
aerial
platforms.
A
five-kilometre
area
around
the
Red
Fort
has
been
marked
as
a
“no
kite
flying
zone” till
the
tricolour
is
hoisted.

Anti-drone
systems
from
Defence
Research
and
Development
Organisation
and
other
security
agencies
are
also
being
installed.

Lunch
boxes,
water
bottles,
remote-controlled
car
keys,
cigarette
lighters,
briefcases,
handbags,
cameras,
binoculars,
umbrellas
and
similar
items
will
not
be
allowed
at
the
Red
Fort
premises.

Anyone
seen
flying
kites,
balloons
or
Chinese
lanterns
from
August
13
to
August
15
till
the
end
of
the
programme
at
Red
Fort
will
be
punished.

Traffic
restrictions

According
to
the
advisory,
traffic
for
general
public
around
the
Red
Fort,
from
where
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
will
address
the
nation
on
I-Day,
will
remain
closed
from
4
am
to
10
am.

It
will
be
open
to
only
authorised
vehicles.

Eight
roads-Netaji
Subhash
Marg,
Lothian
Road,
SP
Mukherjee
Marg,
Chandni
Chowk
Road,
Nishad
Raj
Marg,
Esplanade
Road
and
its
link
road
to
Netaji
Subhash
Marg,
Ring
Road
from
Rajghat
to
ISBT
and
Outer
Ring
Road
from
ISBT
to
IP
Flyover-will
remain
closed
for
general
traffic,
the
advisory
stated.

Noida, Loni, Singhu, Ghazipur, Badarpur, Safia, Maharajpur, Aya Nagar, Auchandi, Surya Nagar, Rajokri, Dhansa, Apsara, Kalandi Kunj, Jharoda, Bhopura, Lal Kuan Pul Prahlad Pur and Tikri borders will be closed for the movement of commercial and transport vehicles on Friday from 10 pm to 11 am on Saturday, and similarly on Sunday and Monday, it said.

Buses
bound
for
Kauria
Pul/Red
Fort/Old
Delhi
Railway
Station
will
operate
via
ISBT
bridge
(Yudhistir
Setu)
and
terminate
at
Boulevard
Road
near
Mori
Gate
U-Turn,
it
said.

All
the
buses
otherwise
terminating
at
Old
Delhi
Railway
Station,
Red
Fort,
Bhai
Mati
Dass
Chowk,
Mori
Gate,
ISBT,
Pragati
Maidan
and
Ambedkar
Stadium
Terminal
shall
terminate
opposite
Turkman
Gate
Asaf
Ali
Road,
it
said.

Buses
bound
for
Red
Fort,
Old
Delhi
Railway
Station,
Bhai
Mati
Dass
Chowk
(Fountain)
from
South
Delhi
will
be
diverted
via
Ring
Road
–
NH-24,
Marginal
Bandh
(Pushta)
Road
and
new
ISBT
Bridge,
and
will
terminate
on
Boulevard
Road,
the
advisory
added.