Republic Day 2016: Delhi turns into fortress; 40,000 cops deployed, traffic diverted

Security has been tightened in the national capital, particularly around Rajpath and the parade route as the nation celebrates its 67th Republic Day on Tuesday.

Multi-layered security has been put in place and elaborate ground-to-air security and traffic arrangements have been made and the airspace over the capital will be monitored by special radars. Barricades have been installed at all exit-entry points and sensitive locations. Around 40000 security personnel have been deployed at key locations in the city, including metros, market places, shopping malls, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals.

According to reports, around 15,000 from the paramilitary forces, 34,000 from Delhi Police and 1,000 from National Security Guard (NSG) have been deployed across the national capital today. NSG snipers are also expected to maintain a hawk-eye vigil from high-rise buildings near Rajpath from where the French president Francois Hollande along with President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Modi will be watching the parade.

Hollande will be the fifth French president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations over the decades. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Hollande to show solidarity after the assault on the Paris which killed 130 people. Hollande and the Prime Minister are expected to sit together at the annual parade.