Unprecedented security arrangements for Obama's visit

New Delhi, Jan 18: A seven-layer security ring will be thrown around the VVIP enclosure on Rajpath for the Republic Day parade to be witnessed by US President Barack Obama and the airspace over the area would be monitored by a radar to be specially set up.

This will form part of the planned unprecedented ground-to-air security drill that will turn the national capital into an impregnable fortress during the visit of Obama as Chief Guest for the main Republic Day celebrations on January 26--the first by any American President.

A multi-agency control room will monitor the surveillance operations in every area of the national capital which has been put on the highest alert because of the visit of the US President. [Interesting facts about US President Barack Obama's Air Force One aircraft]

Obama is arriving here on January 25 on a three-day visit to the country. Threat perception is the highest for the event but there is no specific intelligence input about a possible terror strike, officials engaged with the preparations said today while giving a broad overview of the security drill.

American Secret Service personnel, who have landed in the capital and Agra, have already conducted a preliminary survey of the routes to be taken by the US President and Rajpath where Obama will be seated along with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hosts of other VVIPs to watch the annual parade.

There is a possibility that the chief guest, for the first time, will arrive at the venue separately rather than with the President in his bullet proof limousine. If he does come with the President, he will be possibly the first US President not to travel in his own highly-secured 'Beast'.

A seven-layer security ring will be thrown around the VVIP enclosure with elite Special Protection Group and Secret Services personnel forming a part of the Close Proximity ring, official sources said, adding a radar has been exclusively kept for monitoring air space over the VVIP enclosure.

Central Security agencies have brought in their Concealed Anti-Terrorists (CAT) squads to the national capital who form part of teams that carryout surprise checks at hotels, guest houses and vulnerable localities.

PTI