Traffic management smooth during visit

Residents and commuters to south Mumbai had to face slight inconvenience on Saturday as the area had been turned into a high security zone by the police, following the arrival of Hillary Clinton.

The protection and security branch of Mumbai police is looking to Clinton’s security inside the Taj, where she is staying. Apart from this, Clinton is accompanied by 12 of her personal guards. They will secure the three floors of the hotel — 10th to the 12th  — booked for Clinton and her entourage (Hillary is staying on the 11th floor). The job of the personal guards is to cover Clinton from all angles, and seek help if they see anything suspicious.

About 200 policemen have been stationed on roads all over south Mumbai. The Taj has virtually been turned into a fortress, with barricades all around. This will continue till Sunday afternoon. Usually 30 policemen are deployed to look after the security of the Taj, following the 26/11 attacks. But right now, there is double that number.

On any given day, only one assault vehicle — comprising cops with sophisticated weapons like AK-47s and SLR rifles — is present in the vicinity of the Taj. But two have been deployed for Clinton’s visit. And 12 traffic policemen have deployed near the hotel to manage traffic instead of the usual two.he herself is travelling in a bullet-proof BMW, accompanied by seven cars carrying consulate staff.