Delhi Police has prepared an extensive security and traffic management plan for the Congress-led INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. About 3,500 personnel are expected to be deployed, while more than 200 CCTV cameras will monitor the venue and surrounding areas.
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The rally site has been divided into 14 zones. Each zone will be supervised by an officer of Assistant Commissioner of Police rank, while two zones will be placed under the watch of officers holding the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police.
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Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Range, said the arrangements also include 10 companies of reserve forces. Police personnel will use body-worn cameras, and vehicles fitted with surveillance systems will be deployed around the venue.
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Control rooms are being established to track activity at Ramlila Maidan and in nearby areas. Delhi Police is coordinating with the rally organisers, traffic police and other departments for law-and-order arrangements, traffic regulation and the orderly conduct of the event.
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Opposition leaders have claimed that more than one million people could attend the rally. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 buses, along with private vehicles carrying political leaders, are expected to bring participants to the national capital. Delhi Police issued a no-objection certificate for the event on Friday.
Rally linked to protests over SIR
The gathering is part of Opposition protests against the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, with the parties demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
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The security review comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting at Delhi Police headquarters on October 24. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior police officers attended the meeting, which continued for nearly four hours and examined the law-and-order situation in the capital, including demonstrations connected with the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.
Traders raise concerns over timing
The Chamber of Trade and Industry has urged Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to defer the rally until after November 10. The organisation said traffic restrictions could affect nearly 20 major markets located around Ramlila Maidan.
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The event is scheduled shortly before Dhanteras on November 6 and Diwali on November 8, an important trading period. The tradersโ body has expressed concern that barricading, diversions and other restrictions could limit customer access and disrupt commercial activity.
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Gandhi, however, said in a post on X that the rally would proceed as planned. Addressing Delhiโs traders, he said the protest could be stopped in โ30 secondsโ if Prime Minister Narendra Modi โsackedโ Gyanesh Kumar.