After the latest security audit of India Gate by the Delhi police, baggage scanners will be installed at the beginning of Rajpath for enhanced vigil.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma confirmed the development and said that the move is being taken to make it the memorial more tourist-friendly and to ensure no undesirable elements and miscreants are present in and around India Gate.
Safety measure
“Baggage scanner is to ensure no restricted articles enter the place. It’ll start within a week and we are assessing the number of baggage scanners we’ll need. Initially, a few of them will be placed to see if they can handle the footfall. Depending on the need, they’ll be increased It’s also an anti-terror safety measure,” said Additional DCP Shobhit Saksena. The police are also planning to experiment with routes at India Gate by restricting and opening certain routes for visitors.
Mr. Saksena said that, according to the plan, exit from Rajpath will be restricted and only entry will be allowed. Currently, people are allowed to enter and exit from Rajpath. “The crowds will be channelised to exit from Kasturba Gandhi Marg. The cars can be parked on the stretch from Rajpath to Man Singh Road. The area from Man Singh Road to C-Hexagon will be for people to walk on foot and no vehicles will be allowed,” he said.
As a part of the development, the police said that signage will be installed for better clarity for people to understand the new routes.
“For people to be able to spend hassle-free time, vendors have also been removed from the circle around India Gate. Only those vendors who have permission from the NDMC will be allowed to set shop from Man Singh Road to C-Hexagon,” Mr. Saksena said, adding that police barricades around India Gate are being coloured brown from yellow to match the surroundings.
The police said that the experiment with routes is being conducted to manage traffic especially over the weekends and also for better facilitation of movement of people.
