Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the central government has made a number of changes in Republic Day parade in 2021, including reducing the number of visitors to ensure social distancing.
This will be the first time in history, that the parade will not culminate at the Red Fort. It will start from Vijay Chowk and end at the National Stadium. The distance of the parade has been cut down to half — from an earlier 8.2 kilometres to 3.3 kilometres now.
Delhi Police Contingent marching smartly at Rajpath for #RepublicDay2021 rehearsals. @CPDelhi @DelhiPolice @PIBHomeAffairs pic.twitter.com/W2BCblbHdP
— #weservedilse_DCPNewDelhi (@DCPNewDelhi) January 17, 2021
As part of the new protocols, all marching contingents and participants will have to wear face masks and the contingents will be smaller this time. Instead of 144 members, each will have 96 participants.
The spectator strength has also been brought down from 1,15,000 to 25,000 and children below the age of 15 will not be allowed entry. The number of cultural programmes has also been cut down.
The general public is hereby informed that in view of the present COVID-19 scenario, only 25000 spectators are being invited for Republic Day Celebrations-2021.These are by invitation only and those having valid passes will only be allowed @CPDelhi @LtGovDelhi @PMOIndia @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/54w8RlbMlO
— #weservedilse_DCPNewDelhi (@DCPNewDelhi) January 14, 2021
From next week onwards, Rajpath will have all contingent full dress rehearsals for the upcoming Republic Day parade.
The route for the rehearsals for the Republic Day Parade 2021, which has started on January 17, and continue on 18, 20, and 21 on Rajpath, will be from Vijay Chowk till ‘C’ Hexagon, crossing on Raj Path, India Gate, informed Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police Manish Kumar Agrawal in a notice, ANI reported.