Delhi will be shut down for three days for the highly-anticipated G20 Summit that takes place next month. With less than two weeks to go, streets across the city have been adorned with flowering pots and foliage – nearly 6.75 lakh – and the designated venues have been beautified for the high-profile delegations to arrive.
Traffic arrangements have been made and the government has announced a public holiday from September 8-10 with schools, offices, banks, courts and other commercial establishments closed. The New Delhi district and NDMC area will remain completely closed to general public with the only exception being residents.
Flowers All Over Delhi
Among major locations that have been transformed with plants include Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Dhaula Kuan-IGI Airport Road, Palam Technical Area, India Gate C-Hexagon, Mandi House, Akbar Road roundabout, Delhi Gate, Rajghat and the ITPO.
The Delhi government’s forest department and the Delhi Parks and Garden Society placed 3.75 lakh plants, the PWD placed 50,000, the DDA one lakh, the NDMC one lakh and the MCD 50,000 pots. More potted flowering plants will be put up in the first week of September so that the plants are in full bloom during the duration of the G20 Summit, the officials said.
‘Tourist Police’ For G20 Summit
Nearly 400 police personnel specially trained in soft skills will be deployed at prominent tourist hubs, the airport, railway stations and ISBTs to help delegates and other visitors during the summit
Each team comprising one Indo-Tibetan Border Police commando, a gunman and a driver will be accompanied by probationer sub-inspectors as in-charges, they said.
Officials told PTI that every Tourist Police unit member underwent a task-oriented training programme with the help of Delhi Tourism and other tourism agencies. They have been trained in soft skills, effective communication, including speaking in English; topography and city landmarks; and firing practice.
The ‘Tourist Police’ will be deployed include the Paharganj and the Ajmeri Gate sides of New Delhi railway station, Hauz Khas Village, Palika Bazar, Red Fort, Janpath and Connaught Place, Rajghat, Humayun's Tomb, Jama Masjid, Akshardham, Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, India Gate and Aerocity Mahipalpur, among others.
L-G Takes Stock
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxen visited the Palam Air Force Station on Sunday to take stock of the preparedness. "At 'Yakshini Chowk'- the road junction at Air Force Station, Palam Technical Area. As we get set to welcome HoGs/HoSs for the forthcoming G20 Summit," he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
On his 54th inspection or monitoring visit on Sunday since July 1, the LG also visited the India Gate C-Hexagon, Akbar Road, Tughlaq Road, Kautilya Marg, SP Marg, Dhaula Kuan and Thimmayya Marg, the officials added.
The Grand Shut Down
While preparations are underway at full power, the question that arises is that while both, the Centre and Delhi governments are busy beautifying the capital city, is imposing a lockdown necessary? Reports are that thousands of flights may also be cancelled to and from Delhi to secure the city for the two-day summit.
Notably, Delhi did not shut down commercial establishments and areas even when the Commonwealth Games were held in 2010.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an address on Saturday, acknowledged that Delhi residents might face inconvenience due to the traffic rule changes during the G20 Summit and apologised for it. However, he said despite the hurdles, Delhi residents should ensure that the global event is a success.
“The residents of Delhi have a special responsibility to make the G20 Summit a success. They have to ensure that the reputation of the nation is not affected one bit,” he stated.
The decision to close down the city establishments was in view of high-profile dignitaries like US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and others staying in Lutyens’ Delhi during the two-day summit. In order to maintain international standards, general public has been restricted from entering the zone.
