Delhi police have deployed more than 4,000 personnel and planned layered surveillance for the INDIA alliance rally at Ramlila Maidan, with the venue divided into 14 zones and monitored through more than 200 CCTV cameras, drones and body-worn cameras.
The rally is scheduled from 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Central Armed Police Force companies will also be deployed alongside Delhi Police personnel. Security arrangements cover both the rally ground and the route from Minto Bridge to the event venue, according to officials cited in the report.
The preparations reflect the operational challenge of managing a large political gathering in one of central Delhi’s busiest public-event areas. Police officials estimate that the ground could accommodate around 45,000 to 50,000 people if it were left open. With chairs, barricades and designated movement routes in place, the expected gathering has been assessed at between 30,000 and 40,000 people.
The venue has been divided into 14 security zones. Each zone will be supervised by an officer of assistant commissioner of police rank, while two zones will be monitored by additional deputy commissioner-level officers. Senior police officials will oversee the overall arrangement from a control room established inside the ground.
Surveillance will focus on crowd accumulation and the entry and exit points. Police personnel will screen people entering the venue, while drones will provide aerial monitoring. Officers equipped with body-worn cameras will also be deployed. Anti-riot vehicles and other surveillance equipment have been kept ready to respond to any untoward incident, the report said.
The security plan extends beyond the venue itself. Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar inspected arrangements at Minto Road and Ramlila Maidan on Saturday along with special commissioners, joint commissioners and the deputy commissioners of police for the Central and New Delhi districts. The inspection covered the rally route as well as the event site.
The deployment comes as Delhi continues to maintain additional central security support following protests in the city. The deployment period for 270 CAPF companies called in connection with the protests has been extended for the third time, up to November 16, according to the report. This provides a wider security backdrop for the rally, although the event-specific deployment includes separate arrangements at the venue and along the access route.
Police have also asked the organisers to deploy volunteers to manage the crowd and arrange drinking water. These responsibilities are significant for a gathering expected to continue for seven hours, particularly because movement through barricaded routes and designated entry and exit points can increase pressure on venue operations.
The arrangements show that crowd safety at a major city event depends not only on police numbers but also on zoning, route management, surveillance coordination, controlled access, emergency equipment and organiser support. The rally will proceed under the permitted schedule of 10am to 5pm, with officials monitoring the venue and surrounding route throughout the programme.
