Mumbai has turned into a fortress as security personnel on Friday took up positions with a massive three dimensional security — land, air and water — put in place for U.S. President Barack Obama’s two-day visit starting Saturday.
Nearly 5,000 security personnel, including U.S. security men, Indian intelligence officials and elite commandos have been deployed in south Mumbai alone as all venues on the itinerary of the POTUS (President of the United States) fall in this region, police said.
“The security system is in place. All security personnel took their positions today itself. Till the time Obama leaves the city, every policeman would follow the instructions issued to them,” said Deputy Police Commissioner (Operations) Rajkumar Vatkar.
A rehearsal by U.S. and Indian personnel, including gun-toting NSG and Force One commandos, was carried out on Thursday at the venues Mr. Obama would visit and the routes his convoy would take, Mr. Vatkar said, adding the U.S. choppers had also surveyed the sea shore.
Indian Navy and Coast Guard officials have stationed their ships off the shores of Mumbai to secure the coastline even as warships, including U.S. Navy’s Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship, carrying choppers, are in Indian waters off the Mumbai harbour, police said.
A massive convoy of Presidential vehicles have been brought here in aircrafts, police said.
According to the final itinerary available with Mumbai Police, Air Force One carrying Mr. Obama is scheduled to land at the airport at 12 p.m. on November 6, after which he will fly to INS Shikra in a chopper, before moving to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. He is expected to leave Mumbai at 1.30 p.m. the next day.
The Gateway of India sea front was sanitised from Friday till three days and all the services of the boats have been suspended and anchored at nearby Bhaucha Dhakka.
The Navy and Air Force have intensified patrolling along the Mumbai coastline and its airspace during Mr. Obama’s stay. The city’s airspace will be closed for half an hour before the President’s arrival for all aircraft barring those carrying the U.S. delegation, police said.
Eleven roads close to the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, where Mr. Obama will be staying during his visit, will remain closed from Saturday 6 a.m. till 4 p.m. the next day, police said.
Bursting of fire crackers was not allowed around the Taj and other areas categorised as restricted ones for the high-profile visit, police said. The area from Taj to Shikra helipad would be cordoned off completely during the movement of the President.
The roads to be used for the President’s convoy will not be available for regular vehicular movements till the time the entourage passes.
