Delhiites to get free ride on DTC buses for 4 hrs on I-Day

New Delhi, Aug 10: Delhiites will get a free ride on all Delhi Transport Corporation buses from 6 AM to 10 AM across the national capital on this Independence Day.

Also, for the first time, around 10,000 seats will be available for general public at the historic Red Fort where they can witness Prime Minister Narendra Modi deliver his maiden Independence Day address to the nation.

The members of the public will be seated to the right of the Red Fort in the public enclosure, next to around the same number of schoolchildren clad in colours of the tricolour.

"We are arranging for the seating, security checks and traffic management for 10,000 people. DTC is also making special arrangements," a senior police official said. According to DTC spokesperson R S Minhas, the corporation will provide free rides to commuters on August 15 between 6 A.M. and 10 A.M.

Frequency of DTC buses will be increased around Red Fort in order to make commuting easier for those coming to witness the Independence Day function.

The visitors, however, will not be allowed to carry mobile phones, cameras, binoculars, handbags, briefcases, cigarette lighters, transistors, tiffin boxes, water bottles, lunch boxes, etc.,to the venue and would be subjected to heavy security checks.

Given the security threat to Prime Minister Modi from several terrorist outfits, the security apparatus for the Independence Day celebrations has been scaled up this time.

A multi-layered security cover consisting of thousands of armed personnel will keep a hawk-eyed vigil to pre-empt any possible terror strikes in the city. A ground-to-air security apparatus will be put in place, especially near Red Fort.

Heightened security will also be in place along the route to be taken by the Prime Minister's cavalcade and around Rajghat, where he will lay a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

Thousands of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed at market places, airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, metro stations and places of strategic importance.

Besides the patrolling of the skies by helicopters, an air defence mechanism will be put in place around the venue. Around 5,000 personnel of Delhi Police will be deployed for security, frisking and traffic management in and around the venue. Security personnel from the central paramilitary forces will be also be pressed into service.

Sharpshooters of NSG and spotters will be deployed on the high-rises near the 17th century Mughal fort, officials said. Specialised units like Quick Reaction Teams, SWAT and Vajra will be deployed along with the commando units of Delhi Police at strategic locations, police said.

Security agencies are constantly reviewing the arrangements at Red Fort and have zeroed in on the 'safe houses' where the Prime Minister and other leaders could be taken in case of a terrorist strike, officials added.

PTI