Security arrangements across the national capital have been significantly intensified ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit, with elaborate measures being put in place for visiting leaders, particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Putin is expected to arrive in Delhi on September 11, while Xi Jinping is scheduled to reach the capital on September 12. Both leaders are likely to stay at prominent Delhi hotels, which have been brought under extensive security surveillance.
Four-tier security cover for Putin
The hotel where Putin is expected to stay has been placed under a four-level security arrangement involving multiple agencies.
The innermost layer will consist of the Close Protection Team (CPT), responsible for Putin's immediate protection throughout his stay and movements.
The second layer will be managed by senior Delhi Police officers, forming the inner security perimeter around the visiting president.
The third layer will include Delhi Police commandos along with personnel from paramilitary forces. The outer perimeter will be secured by local police, with additional personnel deployed around the hotel and adjoining areas.
Putin is also expected to travel with his own security detail. Sources indicate that approximately 25-30 Russian security personnel and commandos could accompany the president and maintain a separate protective formation during his movements.
Foreign security teams already in Delhi
Security personnel from both Russia and China have arrived in the capital ahead of the leaders' visits. The teams are coordinating security arrangements at the respective hotels and are expected to work alongside Indian security agencies.
The foreign teams have brought specialised security equipment and weapons as part of their protection protocols.
Security deployment has been extended across the hotels, including the floors where the visiting leaders will stay, as well as the rooftops and ground-level areas.
For the hotel associated with the Russian delegation, an Additional DCP and two ACPs have reportedly been assigned to oversee security operations in different shifts.
The Delhi Police Special Cell has been given a key role in the security arrangements for the Chinese president.
Senior police officers to supervise hotel security
Security at hotels accommodating foreign heads of state will be overseen by senior Delhi Police officers. The overall arrangements at these locations will be supervised by officers of the rank of Special Commissioner of Police, Crime.
At Bharat Mandapam, the main venue for the summit, security operations will be headed by the Special Commissioner of Police, Special Cell.
Besides police and paramilitary deployments, intelligence gathering and surveillance will remain active along the routes connecting the airport, hotels and summit venue.
Delhi has also been divided into several security sectors, with each sector placed under the charge of a DCP- or Additional DCP-rank officer.
Hotel employees undergo extensive verification
Security agencies have also carried out detailed background checks of employees working at the hotels hosting foreign dignitaries.
The verification process has reportedly extended beyond Delhi, with records also being checked in the employees' respective home states.
The move is part of a broader effort to secure every layer of the venues being used by visiting delegations.
Traffic routes, motorcades under close watch
The Delhi Traffic Police has finalised movement routes for foreign leaders travelling between their hotels and Bharat Mandapam.
Multiple route rehearsals have been conducted ahead of the summit to assess traffic management and security requirements.
The motorcades of Putin and Xi are expected to be among the largest during the summit, prompting additional security and traffic preparations along the designated corridors.
High alert measures are being maintained on the routes connecting Palam Air Force Station, the designated hotels and Bharat Mandapam, with security agencies preparing for the movement of the visiting leaders and their delegations.
With the arrival of the two high-profile leaders approaching, Delhi Police and other security agencies are maintaining heightened vigilance across the capital to ensure secure movement and minimise disruption during the BRICS summit.