Ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam from September 12 to 13, security has been tightened across the national capital, with Delhi Police mobilising thousands of personnel and putting in place multi-layered arrangements covering access control, surveillance, intelligence gathering and emergency response.
Around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel and nearly 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been mobilised for the security arrangements. Specialised surveillance cameras have also been deployed along routes to be used by visiting dignitaries and for traffic enforcement.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The summit is expected to bring international leaders and high-level delegations to Bharat Mandapam, prompting authorities to put in place extensive security arrangements across the capital.
Special Commissioner of Police (Protective/Security Division) Manish Kumar Agrawal said Delhi Police had made detailed arrangements in coordination with multiple government and security agencies, while ensuring minimum inconvenience to the public.
“We have made elaborate bandobast by ensuring minimum inconvenience to the public. We have also issued advance advisories regarding traffic arrangements,” Agrawal said.
He said Delhi Police had conducted extensive surveys of routes and locations and prepared detailed plans covering security, traffic management and law and order.
The arrangements extend to the airport, hotels where visiting dignitaries will stay, Bharat Mandapam and other locations where scheduled or unscheduled meetings may take place.
As part of the multi-layered security system, access control, verification, vigilance and surveillance measures have been put in place at key locations. Emergency response mechanisms have also been established to enable authorities to respond swiftly to any untoward incident or disaster-like situation and undertake evacuation, if required.
Agrawal said several Heads of State and high-level delegations are expected to participate in the summit, including representatives from China, Russia, the UK and Egypt. Special arrangements have been made keeping in view their security, movement and stay in the national capital.
Delhi Police has undertaken extensive multi-agency coordination for the summit, including with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, National Security Guard (NSG), Intelligence Bureau and various Central Armed Police Forces.
“We have coordinated with all these agencies and also carried out extensive surveys of the routes to make the necessary arrangements and ensure that there is no disruption or security lapse,” Agrawal said.
Delhi Police has also held inter-state coordination meetings with neighbouring states and is maintaining continuous communication with them regarding intelligence inputs, border security and the movement of manpower and material.
“We have been working on coordination with neighbouring states on intelligence inputs,” Agrawal said, adding that intelligence gathering and preventive policing were also receiving considerable attention.
“Whatever actionable intelligence inputs are being received, we are taking appropriate action on them,” he said.
Traffic arrangements
On traffic management, Agrawal said Delhi Police had issued advance advisories for areas where VVIP movements and other summit-related arrangements are scheduled.
He appealed to Delhi residents to go through the advisories and follow temporary traffic restrictions during the summit to avoid inconvenience.
“The idea is not to cause inconvenience to the public. Restrictions have been imposed according to the time, day and date of the VVIP events. I would request Delhi residents, through you, to read the advisories and follow the temporary restrictions,” he said.
Agrawal said the overall effort was aimed at ensuring that the summit was conducted in a safe, secure and seamless manner, while keeping public inconvenience to a minimum.
He also highlighted Delhi Police’s experience in handling major international events hosted by India, including the G20 Summit and International Solar Alliance programmes.
“As you are aware, India has previously hosted many large-scale events–such as the G20, the International Solar Alliance, and other major summits–where the Delhi Police has consistently delivered flawless arrangements. This time as well, the Delhi Police is firmly resolved to ensure maximum security with minimum inconvenience through seamless coordination,” he said.
DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said police personnel had been deployed across different sector zones in the New Delhi area, while mock drills had been conducted and CCTV networks were being continuously monitored.
“Police have been deployed in different sector zones across New Delhi. Drills have been conducted. CCTVs are being monitored. Meetings have been held with agencies… Our technical equipment has been installed so that any threat can be detected. We are ensuring that the public does not face any kind of inconvenience,” Sharma said. (ANI)
