Construction work halted around Central Vista ahead of Republic Day amid tightened security

New Delhi, January 25. All construction-related activity around Kartavya Path under the Central Vista project has been suspended from Friday as part of heightened security arrangements ahead of Republic Day celebrations on January 26, the Hindustan Times reported citing officials familiar with the matter. The directions were issued by the defence ministry last week.

According to an internal circular from the ministry’s security division, no labour tokens will be issued to construction workers at sensitive locations in New Delhi where work is currently underway. The circular states that all construction sites in and around the Central Vista area will remain sealed until the evening of January 26.

Citing evolving terror tactics, the ministry underlined the need for enhanced vigilance.

“The change in the modus operandi of terrorists, who are now resorting to sneaking and stand-off attacks, gives us all the more reason to be highly alert and security conscious for the successful and smooth celebrations,” the circular said. It listed a series of precautionary steps, including a temporary ban on issuing labour tokens for any renovation, maintenance or construction linked to the Central Vista project.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several unprecedented security measures have been introduced this year across central New Delhi and the Red Fort area, particularly in light of the car blast reported near the Red Fort in November last year.

The explosion, which occurred on November 10, killed at least 13 people and injured several others, triggering a major security alert and a multi-agency investigation. The National Investigation Agency later took over the probe. Investigators said the Hyundai i20 involved in the blast was completely destroyed, with forensic teams collecting samples from the site. Earlier reports indicated the vehicle was suspected to be linked to a terror module, with a Pulwama-based doctor, Dr Umar Un Nabi – traced to Faridabad – believed to have been driving the car and possibly killed in the explosion.

The union government subsequently described the incident as a terrorist attack, following which multiple arrests and searches were conducted to trace wider links.

Officials said around 75 government and private offices in and around New Delhi will remain closed during the security lockdown. While buildings are sealed and offices shut every year, security deployment has been significantly intensified this time. The number of snipers, largely drawn from the National Security Guard, has been doubled, and anti-drone teams have been stationed at each building.

“In earlier years, snipers were not deployed on some buildings that did not lie directly along the parade route. This time, even structures like the National Museum, whose terrace offers a clear view of the route, have been covered,” an official said, adding that nearly all high-rise buildings near the parade route now have sniper cover.