Smaller marching contingents, fewer spectators likely in Republic Day parade due to Covid-19
Sources said around 25,000 spectators will be allowed to witness the celebrations as against a normal crowd of around 1,00,000 people and that children below 15 years of age will not be allowed entry. Similarly, the size of the marching contingents is likely to be brought down from around 144 to around 96.
Republic Day celebration at Rajpath on next month is likely to have a number of changes, including smaller marching contingents, shorter distance for the parade and fewer spectators, in view of the coronavirus pandemic, people familiar with the development said on Wednesday.
The Republic Day parade every year is a spectacular display of India's military might, rich cultural diversity and socio-economic progress.
However, this time, according to the people cited above, even though the overall hue of the Republic Day parade will be maintained, its scale and size will be restricted to an extent in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
India has invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day parade.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last week confirmed that British PM Boris Johnson's trip to New Delhi as the chief guest of Republic Day in January 2020 was on. Allaying speculations over Boris Johnson’s attendance at India’s Republic Day celebrations next year as the chief guest, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “We look forward to welcoming the British PM here."
The preparations for the celebrations are being made keeping in mind all Covid-19 protocols, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying.
The people said around 25,000 spectators will be allowed to witness the celebrations as against a normal crowd of around 1,00,000 people and that children below 15 years of age will not be allowed entry.
Similarly, the size of the marching contingents is likely to be brought down from around 144 in each contingent to around 96.
The parade is likely to be of shorter distance. It will start from Vijay Chowk and end at the National Stadium instead of the Red Fort, the people said.
Sources said over 2,000 Army personnel have arrived in Delhi since late November for Republic Day and Army Day parades and they are being kept in a "safe bubble".
The "safe bubble", created in the Cantonment area, comprises a large number of camps and those selected to stay in them will have almost "zero connectivity" with the outside world till the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 are over, sources said.
The Army Day is celebrated on January 15. Similar arrangements have been made by the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.
Two contingents of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been selected for the parade and one of them will participate in it.
(With PTI inputs)