NEW DELHI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the Indian capital New Delhi have heightened security measures ahead of the BRICS summit, officials said Friday.
According to India's state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR), police have made elaborate arrangements for the high-profile international event scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Bharat Mandapam in the capital city.
Around 15,000 police personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the national capital for security arrangements, the broadcaster quoted Manish Kumar Agrawal, special commissioner of police of the protective security division, as having said.
Officials have identified 22 major diversion points and more than 35 key roads where traffic may be temporarily halted or diverted when required.
To facilitate security and traffic management, government and private schools in Delhi have been shut on Friday and will reopen on Monday. Government offices have also been closed on Friday in the wake of the event. Private companies have been advised to allow employees to work from home wherever possible.
Residents have been advised to use the metro service instead of personal vehicles wherever possible to reduce congestion during the summit. ■