45k personnel, blue safari suits in G20 security plan

One of India's most protected neighbourhoods, the heart of Delhi which is the seat of power for the world's largest democracy, will be guarded by 45,000 Delhi Police and central forces personnel who will be clad not in the khaki that has been the symbol of police in India, but in blue, officials said on Friday.

- Sanjeev Jha

One of India’s most protected neighbourhoods, the heart of Delhi which is the seat of power for the world’s largest democracy, will be guarded by 45,000 Delhi Police and central forces personnel who will be clad not in the khaki that has been the symbol of police in India, but in blue, officials said on Friday.

Detailing the elaborate security setups as the city hosts heads of States and senior leaders from 29 nations, officials said that the plan for the G20 Summit, months in the making, involves reinforcements from paramilitary forces and elite National Security Guard (NSG), and training in sophisticated tactics of fighting terrorists, protecting VVIPs and rescuing people.

Among the 45,000 are also commandoes who can rappel down helicopters and those who will act as personal security officers with precision driving skills, helping India fulfil the duty of protecting its guests. Bringing them all together will be two control rooms fed by streams of CCTV footage from across the city, especially the heart that is the New Delhi district.