Delhi Police has deployed a multi-layered security and traffic plan for the INDIA bloc rally scheduled at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, with around 4,000 police personnel, more than 200 CCTV cameras and 150 additional traffic officers planned for the event. Organisers have claimed that up to 10 lakh people could attend, while police intelligence inputs estimate a turnout of about 70,000.
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Devesh Chandra Srivastava inspected preparations at Ramlila Maidan on Saturday afternoon. The senior officers directed personnel to closely monitor suspicious people and activities and maintain heightened vigilance at entry and exit points to prevent crowd-related disorder or security lapses.
The venue has been divided into 14 zones for security and crowd management. Each zone will be placed under the responsibility of an assistant commissioner of police, while two zones will be supervised by an additional deputy commissioner of police. Senior officers will monitor the arrangements during the proposed rally, scheduled to run from 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
People entering the ground will be screened through metal detectors before being allowed inside. Police will also use more than 200 CCTV cameras and body-worn cameras to monitor the venue and surrounding areas. Anti-riot vehicles and vehicles equipped with surveillance equipment will be kept ready to respond to any untoward situation, according to the report.
The planned deployment also includes 150 additional traffic police personnel at key intersections around the venue. Police have asked organisers to provide details of invitees, volunteers and the buses bringing participants to the rally. Parking arrangements are to be coordinated with the traffic police to manage the movement of vehicles around Ramlila Maidan.
Organisers have been instructed to install high-definition CCTV cameras at strategic locations and establish a control room to monitor the footage. They have also been asked to cooperate with the security arrangements, maintain discipline and avoid speeches that could create a risk to communal harmony. Overnight stay at the ground will not be permitted.
The security plan comes alongside an extended deployment of 270 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces in Delhi. The Centre has extended their deployment for the third time until November 16 in view of the rally and the possibility of sudden demonstrations by various organisations. Delhi Police has been given responsibility for coordinating the deployment.
The scale of the arrangements reflects the operational challenge posed by a large gathering in central Delhi, where crowd entry, bus movement, parking and access to surrounding roads must be managed together. The final attendance, traffic conditions and implementation of the security plan will be monitored during the rally on Sunday.
