The national capital is on high alert with over 70 companies of paramilitary forces and more than 70,000 police personnel are deployed across the city. A six-layered security protocol involving 15,000 security personnel will be deployed in New Delhi district alone.

“Installation of more than 2,500 CCTV cameras equipped with data-based facial recognition and video analytics. Anti-drone systems covering a four kilometres radius to detect and deactivate aerial threats. Snipers on rooftops and sealing of over 200 buildings along the parade route, with residential windows facing the route also secured,” a police officer said.

Commandoes, quick reaction teams, PCR vans, anti-sabotage checks and SWAT teams are deployed at strategic locations along Kartavya Path and all around the city, he said.

Flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms such as paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), microlight aircraft, remotely-piloted aircraft, hot-air balloons, small size-powered aircraft, quadcopters or parajumping from aircraft are prohibited over Delhi till February 1.

The rehearsals for the annual Republic parade are in full swing. The five-day Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 is also being held in New Delhi and Greater Noida. So, to facilitate smooth traffic movement in the national capital region, the Delhi Police has issued a comprehensive traffic advisory regarding the arrangements and restrictions that will be in place for the next few days. The special arrangements have been made for January 17, 18, 20 and 21, the Delhi Police announced in a post on X. 

According to the advisory, traffic restrictions would be put in place for Kartavyapath- Rafi Marg crossing, Kartavyapath- Janpath crossing, Kartavypath- Mansingh Road crossing, and Kartavyapath- C- Hexagon from 10:15 am to 12:30 pm on the dates mentioned above. The advisory has been issued to “facilitate uninterrupted movement of Republic Day parade rehearsals on Kartavya Path,” the Delhi Police said in a statement. 

Traffic Advisory

Special traffic arrangements have been made on 17th, 18th, 20th and 21st January in order to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of Parade on Kartavyapath.

Kindly follow the advisory#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/y53clzh0wL

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) January 15, 2025

Diversions 

According to traffic advisory, people going from north Delhi to south Delhi and vice versa can take Ring Road, Sarai Kale Khan, I.P. Flyover, Rajghat, Lajpat Ral Marg, Mathura Road, Bhairon Road, Ring Road, Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Attaturk Marg, Kautilaya Marg.

Those travelling from east to southwest Delhi, Ring Road can take the Vande Matram Marg.

People coming to Vinay Marg, Shanti Path or going to New Delhi and beyond can take Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, roundabout RML, Baba Kharak Singh Marg or Park Street – Mandir Marg and proceed further to North Delhi or New Delhi, the advisory stated.

“Motorists are urged to follow traffic rules, be patient and heed Traffic Police instructions. Plan your journey in advance to avoid inconvenience,” the Delhi Police said. 

Notably, the national capital is also hosting the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 at Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi in New Delhi and the India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida. The event is scheduled from January 17-22. 

Republic Day: Date, time and theme 

India will celebrate its 76th Republic Day on January 26, Sunday. The majestic Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path will begin at 10 am. This year’s theme is ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’ (Golden India: Heritage and Development).

In the era of artificial intelligence-generated photos, a picture of India Gate’s Kartavya Path that shows visitors’ gutkha spits “painted” on it is becoming viral on social media. A post on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) showcases several images where paan and gutkha stains are visibly marked on the red granite of Kartavya Path, previously known as Rajpath.

The caption of the post reads, “Kartavya Path, New Delhi,” and it has garnered over 350,000 views and more than 7,000 likes. The post has sparked significant discussion among social media users, with many emphasising the need to improve the understanding and practice of good civic sense among Indians.

Kartavya Path, New Delhi https://t.co/EWSAyo5Uec pic.twitter.com/kaHVURJhqE

— Kirat (@811GK) November 19, 2024

“We as citizens always blame the government for everything, but we don’t follow basic civic behaviour and expect the government to do everything. First we should learn some basic public behaviour, and then we can complain about the government,” commented a user.

“Isn’t this a high time to bring a bill to punish the people littering in public places and also hold accountable the departments responsible for public place cleanliness?” wrote another user.

“Heavy fine/manual labour, whichever is possible, is the only way forward to make these people understand civic sense,” commented a third user.

The post has gone viral and continues to gain increasing traction among users. However, authorities have yet to respond to it.