Ramlila Maidan braces for high-security Opposition rally

Delhi Police have locked in a two-tier security plan for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, covering the announced march route from Minto Bridge and the venue itself with roughly 3,000-3,500 personnel, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and about 250 CCTV cameras.

DCP Central District Rohit Rajbir Singh confirmed that the first tier starts at Minto Bridge. The police will have their own personnel and traffic arrangements in place to cover the entire route, manage the movement of people, and minimise disruption to surrounding residential and commercial areas.

The police are in close contact with the organisers to ensure appropriate diversions are put in place so residents, shopkeepers, and market people are not unduly inconvenienced.

The second tier is the Maidan. Outside units and CAPF contingents will augment the local forces. The Maidan has been divided into 14 zones, each under the supervision of an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer, and grouped into 8 regions under senior officers. Of the 8 gates, it appears only 3 will be open to the public, with separate access for VIPs and senior police officers. The route will have multi-tier frisking, barricading, and dedicated evacuation routes for senior leadership.

Approx 200-250 HD CCTV cameras (including AI-enabled cameras with facial recognition) will be in place to provide continuous surveillance over the route, the entry and exit points, the stage area, the seating enclosures, and the surrounding roads. The live feeds will be monitored from dedicated control rooms. Body-worn cameras on staff and surveillance vehicles will also be in place. Organisers must also install their own HD cameras and set up a control room with monitoring screens as a condition of the NOC.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Anurag Kumar and Special CP (Law and Order Zone-1) Devesh Srivastva visited Ramlila Maidan on Saturday to look at the ground arrangements. The rally is permitted from 10 am to 5 pm, and organisers are expected to ensure it concludes at 5 pm and participants disperse immediately. No overnight stays before or after the event are permitted, and processions are not permitted outside the maidan.

Traffic police will enforce restrictions and diversions across central Delhi from 10 am to 5 pm. The affected stretches will include Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Aruna Asaf Ali Road, Minto Road, and key T-points at Netaji Subhash Marg, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO, Ajmeri Gate, and Jhandewalan. About 350 traffic police and over 100 home guards will be on the beat.