Even as the team visited the Taj Mahal and met senior officials, the district administration seems to be leaving little to chance by turning the city into a virtual fortress for the high-profile visit. Police sources told TOI on Monday that an extensive security drill would start from Tuesday and will remain in place till the US president departs.
Almost 15 companies of the PAC, requisitioned to bolster security in the city, will start arriving in Agra from Wednesday. A massive checking drive would be initiated at all entry points to Agra and inter-state borders will be sealed two days before Obama arrives. The Yamuna Expressway - which connects Delhi and Agra - would probably shut down for a day while the president is in the city.
A senior police official said that the US team had in fact sought the closure of the Yamuna Expressway for three days but their request had been turned down. "We told them that it is not possible to close a national highway for three consecutive days. However, we will consider shutting it for a day."
The shutting of the expressway is part of a contingency plan being kept ready by the president's handlers in case bad weather prevents him from travelling by air. Flights to Agra will also be curtailed during Obama's visit and traffic restrictions would be in place on the route that his convoy takes, officials added.
Security at the Taj Mahal, the president's primary destination, would be mainly controlled by the US secret service. District police officials said that they would be providing logistical support by setting up a special control room near the monument.
In fact, there is also a possibility, police officials said, that the Taj would be off-limits to visitors throughout the day the US president is due to visit although ASI officials claimed they had not received any instructions on this till now.
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