U.S. to spend $200 Million a day on Obama's Mumbai visit

Wednesday, 03 November 2010, 18:13 IST
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Mumbai: The U.S. would be spending a whopping $200 million (approximately 900 crore) per day on President Barack Obama's visit to the city. "The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said. About 3,000 people including Secret Service agents, U.S. government officials and journalists would accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and U.S. security agencies are already here for the past one week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments. "Except for personnel providing immediate security to the President, the U.S. officials may not be allowed to carry weapons. The state police is competent to take care of the security measures and they would be piloting the Presidential convoy," the official said on condition of anonymity. Navy and Air Force has been asked by the state government to intensify patrolling along the Mumbai coastline and its airspace during Obama's stay. The city's airspace will be closed half-an-hour before the President's arrival for all aircraft barring those carrying the U.S. delegation. The personnel from SRPF, Force One, besides the NSG contingent stationed here would be roped in for the President's security, the official said. The area from Hotel Taj, where Obama and his wife Michelle would stay, to Shikra helipad in Colaba would be cordoned off completely during the movement of the President.
Source: PTI