Unparalleled security arrangements will mark US President Barack Obama's three-day visit to India starting Sunday.
Scores of security men have been positioned, many roads have been blocked to the public and a large number of sandbags have come up at several street corners.
Security experts confirm that the preparations are the most elaborate ever made by India.
The Beast: According to reports, the US president's car, known as The Beast, has arrived in the Indian capital.
The US and Indian security officials are having serious differences over Obama's trip to the Rajpath on Monday morning, say media reports. Going by tradition, the chief guest and the Indian president arrive together in the latter's car for the military parade.
But apparently US security officials want Obama to use The Beast instead.
The car "is a fortress on wheels equipped to protect him from terror attacks and keep him connected to his office at all times", reports NDTV.
Security cameras: Approximately 15,000 security cameras have been put up in New Delhi for Obama's visit. About 165 cameras are being installed just on one thoroughfare - Rajpath, from where the US president will watch the military parade, reports NDTV.
The footage will be monitored by American security personnel as well as Indian officials.
The road has been cordoned off for almost a week, with a large number of troops keeping a close watch on things.
Rooms: All 438 rooms of The Maurya Sheraton have been booked for Obama and his entourage, with no guests to be allowed in the hotel or its premises, claim reports. Former US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton were put up in the same hotel during their previous visits to the country. Obama himself stayed here during his last visit in 2010.
The hotel has delegated a team of staff to look after the president and his associates.
The president's security team has arrived in advance to check the door handles, locks and air-conditioning ducts of the hotel to make sure that there are no cameras or secret listening devices, claim reports.
Extended no-fly zone: A radius of 300 km is the norm for the no-fly zone at India's Republic Day parade, but it will be extended to 400 km this time around, reports Reuters.
It would mean that flights would be prohibited from taking off or landing in Delhi, Agra or even Jaipur.
According to reports, the request made by the US secret service of a 5 km no-fly zone around Rajpath during the event has been shot down as the Indian Air Force has to carry out a flypast at the end of the Republic Day parade.
The dog squad: According to media reports, more than 20 sniffer dogs have arrived in Delhi ahead of Obama's visit.
The dog "officers" of the elite K-9 squad of the US secret service will be "staying in style - in suites of a five-star hotel with their handlers", says a report in The Times of India. It quotes Delhi Police sources saying that some of the four-legged officers are named Hurricane, Frederick, Rock and Jordan.
The dogs hold "military ranks" and will be deployed around Rajpath and at the Maurya Sheraton hotel. They are trained to "sniff out even the most minute traces [sic] of explosives".
The report advises people not to be anywhere in the vicinity of the canines who "can run at speeds of 40-50 mph and have a deadly bite".
