Delhi Police elaborate security arrangements ahead of Vajpayee's funeral

New Delhi: The Delhi Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the last rites procession of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Madhur Verma said, "They have made elaborate security arrangements in the city today. It will be ensured that the people who come to pay their last respect face minimum inconvenience. Also, there will be no compromise with security".

The Delhi Police on Thursday issued traffic advisory by keeping in mind the final procession of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Almost all roads leading to central Delhi including Krishna Memon Marg, Akbar Road, Janpath and India Gate C-Hexagon, among others, will remain closed from 8:00 a.m. onwards for the general public today in order to ensure smooth vehicular movement during Vajpayee's final journey.

Traffic will also not be permitted on lower Ring Road from ISBT Kashmere Gate towards Shantivan and from IP flyover towards Rajghat.

Vajpayee, the 10th prime minister of India who breathed his last on Thursday evening, will be cremated today with full state honour. The mortal remains of the former prime minister which is presently resting at his Krishna Menon Marg home will be taken to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters at around 9:00 a.m. Vajpayee's funeral procession will take place at Smriti Sthal at 1:30 pm.

The 93-year-old BJP veteran breathed his last at 5:05 pm on Thursday, here at All India Institutes of Medical Science (AIIMS) following a prolonged illness.

Vajpayee, who led the National Democratic Alliance government from 1998 to 2004, was the first-ever member of the BJP to become India's Prime Minister.