Delhi to step up security for Xi’s arrival after Putin’s landing – fortified hotels, biggest motorcades and more | Today’s news

Delhi is gearing up for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping after Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Delhi early Friday morning for the BRICS summit amid heightened security. With Xi Jinping scheduled to land on September 12, 12:25 p.m., elaborate arrangements are in place, including fortified accommodations and multi-level security.

Both the leaders are expected to grace the roads of Delhi with the biggest processions. Although security and traffic arrangements were kept on high alert all along the route from the airport to the hotels and from the hotels to the Bharat Mandapam, special security measures were taken for these guests.

Xi Jinping will also arrive at the Palam Air Force Station and head to the Taj Hotel, while Vladimir Putin’s three-day stay will be at the Maurya Hotel, India Today reported. Xi Jinping’s security team is already in Delhi and dealing with security measures at their designated hotel.

Special security teams from both the countries have already arrived in Delhi and are making security arrangements at the respective hotels. Foreign security teams equipped with advanced weapons and security equipment are stationed on all floors of the hotel complex where Xi Jinping will be staying. Similar measures apply where Putin resides.

In addition to fortifying the residences of the heads of state, the authorities conducted several track tests to assess security measures. The Delhi Traffic Police has implemented traffic diversions and restrictions due to which there will be regulated vehicular movement on key routes in the national capital from 2:00 PM to 8:30 PM today.

More than 35 roads have been identified for regulated movement and 22 diversion points have been designated in Delhi. Due to the movement of foreign delegations and VVIP convoys, the Delhi Police has deployed nearly 4,800 transport personnel for the summits.

A look at Putin’s multi-layered security arrangement

Four-layer security was deployed for the Russian heads of state. The first layer of security includes the Close Protection Team (CPT), which ensures Putin’s close protection at all times, the news outlet said. The second layer is the inner security circle, which consists of senior police officers in Delhi. Another layer of security, called the middle circle, includes Delhi Police commandos and paramilitary personnel. The local police are in charge of the security arrangement of the outermost circuit. Part of this outermost security layer is intensive police surveillance, covering areas outside the hotel and the entire surrounding area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that several other top officials will attend the summit, such as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. At the two-day summit under the theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, leaders will exchange views on strengthening BRICS cooperation on common priorities and share perspectives on global and regional issues of common concern.