The Ramlila Maidan protest planned for November 1 will be secured by more than 3,000 Delhi Police personnel and over 200 CCTV cameras, including artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance systems, as authorities prepare for a large INDIA bloc gathering in central Delhi.
The venue has been divided into 14 zones for crowd management, with each zone to be supervised by an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer, a Central district police officer said. Control rooms are being established near the ground, while police personnel will use body-worn cameras and surveillance-equipped vehicles during the event.
The gathering, titled ‘Chalo Dilli’, will be the first major demonstration at Ramlila Maidan since Jantar Mantar was denotified as a protest site on October 11. Workers were seen preparing the venue on Thursday by installing the stage, erecting tents and arranging chairs. DCP (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh inspected the security preparations at the site.
Police are scheduled to meet the organisers on Friday to assess the expected number of participants and vehicles, finalise parking arrangements and demarcate entry points. Protesters are likely to be directed through eight gates, with a separate capacity limit for each entry point to regulate movement and reduce the risk of traffic congestion around the venue.
The no-objection certificate issued for the event requires the organisers to install high-definition CCTV cameras at entry and exit gates, the stage and seating areas. The organisers must also establish a control room with five monitoring screens. Police have asked them to arrange sufficient water tankers and toilet facilities, including separate toilets for women.
The event is required to conclude by 5 p.m., after which the dispersal of participants is expected to begin. The police arrangements are intended to manage movement inside the large ground while also limiting disruption on surrounding roads and at access points.
The programme is being organised to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Cockroach Janta Party, the All India Students’ Association and several other organisations have extended support for the event. Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has also called on citizens and student organisations across party lines to participate.
The proposed gathering has raised concerns among traders in central Delhi during the festive shopping period. The Kirana Committee (Delhi) urged Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to postpone the event until after November 10, saying crowding and traffic restrictions could affect business in nearly 20 major markets, as well as traders, workers and families dependent on seasonal sales.
The police-organiser meeting on Friday will determine the expected turnout, vehicle arrangements, parking plan and final entry demarcation before the protest. These arrangements will shape how participants enter and leave Ramlila Maidan and how traffic is managed around the venue.
