The Indian military will chip in personnel and equipment to add extra security to the city of 20 million people when it hosts the world’s most powerful leaders at a summit next month. The government will rent 20 bulletproof armored limousines for leaders for 180 million rupees ($2.18 million), as well as helicopters and vehicles mounted with anti-drone defense systems, officials said. The army will also have bomb disposal squads, quick medical teams, and vehicles capable of rescuing dignitaries from the streets. Front-line fighter aircraft, including Rafales and Mirage-2000s, will monitor the skies over the capital and surrounding areas. At least 66 fire tenders will be stationed near the summit venue and designated hotels, News18 reported.
India has converted its year-long presidency of the G20 into a national event, plastering roads, airports, bus stops, parks, and railway stations with summit advertisements. New fountains and ornamental plants have sprung up in many squares, and life-size carvings of langurs — large, black-faced monkeys – have been placed in several areas to combat a severe wild animal menace in the capital. A $300 million venue opened in July to host the summit, a shell-shaped building that can hold up to 3,000 people.
The two-day summit, starting September 9, will have the most high-profile guest list India has ever welcomed. The attendees will include U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Bin Salman, among others. Chinese President Xi Jinping, however, is expected to skip the meeting.
Some 130,000 police will be deployed as the city is locked down, with schools, government offices, and businesses ordered to close for three days. The Indian military, including the air force, will deploy “integrated aerospace defense measures in the Delhi and adjacent areas,” an army spokesman told Reuters. The Delhi Police and paramilitary forces will use anti-drone systems to prevent any aerial threats, the spokesman added.
A special commissioner of the police in charge of security arrangements in the city said, “This is a momentous occasion, and we are preparing accordingly.” He declined to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media. Thousands of other police personnel from other departments, including home guards and the para-military Border Security Force, have been brought in to ensure law and order, he added.
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) troops with previous National Security Guards and Special Protection Group (SPG) experience will be assigned to protect the VIP guests. The SPG is an elite corps of the Indian police, paramilitary forces, and intelligence agencies that provides personal security for heads of state and senior politicians. The SSB has been trained to deal with possible terror attacks and is equipped with the latest counter-terrorism technology. The Indian police is also deploying mobile command centers to monitor the summit. In addition, the city has installed more than 350 CCTV cameras.
