A full dress rehearsal for the 80th Independence Day celebrations was held at the historic Red Fort on Thursday amid heightened security and extensive traffic restrictions across the national capital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the nation from the Red Fort on August 15, with security agencies preparing for large crowds and increased movement restrictions around the venue.
Security arrangements have been strengthened across Shahdara, which shares seven border points with Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Shahdara DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena said traffic at these border points was completely stopped from 10 p.m. on Wednesday as part of the security measures.
Temporary security pickets have been deployed alongside regular checkpoints and check posts. Emergency Response Vehicles and patrol vehicles have also been placed in their respective areas.
Special arrangements have been made in the Khadar area along the Yamuna riverbank, behind the Red Fort complex. Continuous patrolling in the area will continue until the main Independence Day event.
Traffic restrictions have also been implemented at Delhi’s borders to manage vehicle movement and prevent congestion.
Traffic Police Zone-2 Additional Commissioner of Police Dinesh Kumar Gupta said commercial vehicles were not permitted to enter through the affected border points, while vehicles carrying essential commodities were allowed.
Delhi Police has coordinated with authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to restrict vehicles heading towards the national capital and divert them at earlier points.
Several diversion points have been established across the city as part of the Independence Day traffic plan.
Routes including C-Hexagon, Tilak Marg, the Lutyens’ Zone and VIP areas are expected to face restrictions because of VIP movement and security arrangements.
Traffic personnel have been deployed at key intersections to regulate vehicle movement.
Authorities have also issued public advisories through multiple platforms, including print media, informing commuters about affected routes and recommending alternative routes.
The dress rehearsal marks another stage in preparations for the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort.
With Prime Minister Modi scheduled to deliver his Independence Day address on August 15, security and traffic arrangements are expected to remain in place around sensitive locations and key entry points until the conclusion of the main event.
Commuters travelling through central Delhi and border areas have been advised to check traffic advisories and plan journeys accordingly.
