(This story originally appeared in on Jan 10, 2015)

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police is all set to take up the biggest security challenge in recent times as the city prepares for Republic Day celebrations. Entry to Rajpath and India Gate lawns will be restricted from Saturday onwards and a flank of Sardar Patel Marg near ITC Maurya may also be shut days before Republic Day.Police are in sync with US officials and intelligence agencies for Barack Obama 's visit. With agencies like CIA, RAW and IB handling the major chunk of the security apparatus, the foremost task in Delhi Police's kitty is to keep a hawk-eyed vigil.Police sources said that as per the security protocol of the US President no vehicle will be allowed near the Air Force One or Obama's armoured car "The Beast".Sources said that spotters have been deployed in areas around the airport, hotels around ITC Maurya, US embassy and areas around India Gate to keep a round-the-clock vigil on movement of vehicles and individuals. The traffic police have also marked the roads around the hotel and the US embassy as a no-halting zone. A Delhi Police special commissioner has been asked to take a daily review of security installations. Specially numbered stickers will be given to vehicles entering the hotels around Maurya and only be parked at designated lots.Special cell snipers positioned at strategic locations will be equipped with high definition scopes and long range rifles, sources said. The special bay used by VIPs leaving and entering the airport has also been sanitized. Dry runs of the security drills are being conducted daily to avoid last minute glitches.Surveillance has been mounted in New Delhi district (in and around Rajpath), central and North district (Red Fort), security unit (Rajpath) and north-west district (Chhatrasal Stadium). High-definition licence plate recognition cameras will be installed to keep track of vehicles entering and exiting central Delhi.The central district will have 40 cameras — six at Daryaganj, five at Jama Masjid, 19 at IP Estate covering Delhi Gate, ITO and adjoining areas. The north district, including Chandni Chowk and Sunehri Masjid, will have 54 fixed and pan-tilt-zoom cameras.Armed pickets have been put on all the roads in New Delhi district. The cops will also be monitoring the city through real-time satellite imagery and drones. The city airspace will be a no-fly zone before Republic Day.