Elaborate security, traffic arrangements for I-Day celebrations

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) The national capital will virtually turn into a citadel on the eve of Independence Day with the Delhi Police making unprecedented security and traffic arrangements, especially near the Red Fort from whose ramparts Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the nation on August 15.

Addressing a media conference here today, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S N Shrivastava said in view of intelligence inputs regarding some militant outfits intending to cause harm to prominent political figure and ''symbols of national importance'' security has been bolstered with a special focus on anti-sabotage measures.

He said 170 companies of security forces, including 30 paramilitary ones, would be deployed across the length and breadth of the capital and those forces would also include commandos drawn from the ITBP and the NSG. Air defence measures were also being taken with the Red Fort being declared a no-fly zone and helicopter surveillance maintained till the I-Day celebrations were over, he added.

The JCP said the entry of commercial vehicles in the capital would be banned from the midnight of August 14 and only interstate buses would be allowed inside the capital.

But Metros, he added, across the city would ply as usual and he issued an appeal to the public to use those services as maximum as possible so as to avoid inconvenience which may arise because of strict traffic arrangements being made for the day.

MORE UNI RL PY RAI1757