Where is Obama right now, callers dial 100 to ask

“We have been getting calls asking us for Obamas’s present location. One caller said he is leaving from home and before he decides what route to take, he wanted to check Obama’s schedule so that he can avoid the routes shut for VIP movement,” another officer said.

These policemen were part of over 12,000, including all area joint commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners put were on duty across the capital following President Obama’s visit. Police said the numbers will go up to 20,000 prior to Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

Almost 55 checkposts spread across all districts were set up, with armed guards posted at all to ensure full security. Heavy deployment was seen in the New Delhi district with one checkpost at every three kilometres in the area.

While Rajghat, SP Marg and C Hexagon were completely cordoned off, areas including Tilak Marg, Barakhamba Road, BZM marg, ITO, Shahjahan Road, Pandara Road, UPSC, Akbar road, Parliament Street witnessed heavy security. Each picket had five police personnel deployed for checking every vehicle that passed through the barricade. The closure of SP Marg triggered traffic snarls in Saint Martin Marg, Manas Marg and Ring Road near Moti Bagh.

Residents in and around these areas especially SP Marg were, however, nonchalant. “We don’t mind the clampdown because it happens every year. But the security presence on the road is, I must admit, heavier this year than all previous years,” said Pradeep, a resident of Railway Colony near Sardar Patel Marg.

Most roads, especially those near ITC Maurya were indeed deserted on Sunday, the only signs of activity being the men in Khakhi patrolling pickets and roads. Though the Commissioner of Police B S Bassi had at the Delhi Police Annual Review promised the city will not come to a standstill when Obama comes visiting, the visit did cause a mass clampdown of sorts.

Hamid, an auto-rickshaw driver stuck in traffic on Teen Murti Road, said, “We are trying to keep off the routes deployed with heavy security and refusing passengers. We have suffered losses over the past two days and tomorrow will be the worst as far as business goes for auto-rickshaw drivers.”

Police said over 2000 traffic personnel were on duty to facilitate the VIP movement on several routes on Sunday and 50 more teams will be deployed for the arrangement charted out for Monday morning till the parade gets over.