Stage set for 69th Republic Day celebrations today, 10 ASEAN leaders to be chief guests this year
The Republic Day Parade on Rajpath will be the main event to mark the occasion, showcasing India's strength, diversity and culture.
India will on Friday celebrate its 69th Republic Day, displaying the country’s pride and glory on the majestic Rajpath in the national capital that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan to National Stadium through Vijay Chowk and India Gate.
The Republic Day Parade on Rajpath will be the main event to mark the occasion, showcasing India's strength, diversity and culture. After tributes are paid to martyrs who have laid down their lives for the nation at Amar Jawan Jyoti, the grand parade will march down Rajpath.
The Armed forces and India's military might will be display in various forms as will cultural diversity exhibited by many states.
What makes this Republic Day special is the presence of 10 ASEAN heads of state or government (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei), a first in the history of the Republic of India.
The national flag will be unfurled by President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. This will be succeeded by the cheerful tune of the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute.
Five helicopters will salute the President and his Guests of honour, displaying the tricolour, the ASEAN flag and the flags of three wings of the armed forces.
Rajpath will be resplendent with the colours of India's rich social and cultural diversity and economic progress. 23 tableau from different states and central government departments, will be part of the parade. Of them, 14 will be from different states, the rest from different ministries and agencies.
The parade for the first time will display the amazing feats of BSF's Women Bikers Squad.
Meanwhile, the national capital has been wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket with thousands of security personnel keeping a hawk-eyed vigil to prevent any terror strike or untoward incident during the Republic Day celebrations.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters have been deployed to keep a watch on the 8-km-long parade route from Rajpath to Red Fort besides nearby localities.
Also Read: President's R-Day eve speech: Kovind asks rich to give up entitlements for those with greater need
Snipers have been stationed atop high-rise buildings while scores of CCTV cameras are keeping a tight vigil on people’s movements on the parade route. Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, have been also put in place to secure the airspace.
Nearly 60,000 security personnel drawn from the Delhi Police and central security forces have been deployed in Central Delhi. The police is also using counter-drone technology to thwart any attack or identify any suspicious flying object, a senior police officer said.
Security personnel have identified vulnerable spots such as crowded markets, railway stations, bus stands and other high-value establishments, and efforts have been made to secure them.
The traffic police has also deployed over 1,500 personnel to manage route diversions and ensure safe and secure passage for the visiting dignitaries.
Patrolling in public places has been intensified and checking and frisking in metro, railway stations and bus terminals tightened.
Also Read: From 'Nirbhay Missile' to ITBP tableau: 10 facts to know about 2018 Republic Day parade
“The Delhi Police had made robust, strategic and multi- layer security arrangements added with anti-terror preparedness. Keeping in view the presence of a large number of foreign heads of states, it is a special occasion and a matter of national pride,” said Dependra Pathak, Chief Spokesperson, Delhi Police.
Another officer said that apart from asking police personnel to be vigilant, they have asked the staff to be more courteous to visitors and be aware of the various enclosures to guide the people.
This time, there are additional number of zones that have been created along the parade route and these will be monitored by a deputy commissioner of police-rank officer, another official said.
The number of doors with metal detectors has also been increased to ensure that people don’t have to stand in queues while entering, the official added.
No commercial flights will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from 10.35 AM to 12.15 PM.