The national capital was put under a massive ground-to-air security apparatus for the Republic Day celebrations today in the wake of the Noida shootout in which two Pakistani terrorists were killed and intelligence inputs about possible attacks.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the elite National Security Guards have been deployed at various locations while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos kept a tight vigil along the route of the Republic Day parade.
Around 20,000 security personnel, including 5,500 from paramilitary forces, have been deployed across the capital with commandos of the ITBP and Delhi Police positioned at strategic locations. Snipers were deployed at all high-rises along the parade route.
A multi-layer security ring was put in place at Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil will unfurl the tricolour and take the salute of marching contingents.
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev is the chief guest at the parade, which will also be attended by Defence Minister A K Antony and the country's top political and military brass.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not be attending this year's R-Day celebrations as he is recuperating after a coronary surgery.
The national capital's airspace will remain closed from 1115 IST to 1215 IST. The Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by the air traffic controllers to the airlines.
The Uttar Pradesh ATS killed two suspected Pakistani militants in neighbouring Noida yesterday while they were trying to enter Delhi.