New Delhi: Authorities in New Delhi are being extra vigilant. With a view to maintaining security and preventing any possibility of a terror attack from the skies, the Civil Aviation Ministry has announced that the airspace over Delhi would be ‘closed' from 5 to 10pm on October 3 and 14 — the days of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games.

The ministry has, however, assured that "routine commercial flights would continue to operate during this time. In addition, except defence and paramilitary aircraft and helicopters carrying VIPs, no flight shall be permitted to take off/land at the Delhi airport and other airports, within a 300 km zone around it."

The ministry missive said, "State-owned aircraft/helicopters flying the governor or chief minister within the state will be subject to necessary clearance from the ministry of home affairs."

The government has also banned micro-light aircraft and hang-gliders from flying clubs in the airspace over Delhi in order to rule out the possibility of a terror attack by using any of these.

The Indian Air Force's unmanned aerial vehicles and armed helicopters will keep an eye from the sky on the venues and to guard against any airborne attack.

The latest piece of advice from the police says: "Carry an ID card if you are going anywhere near the CWG venues either for official work or in an emergency, as there will be round-the-clock extensive police presence in and around the stadiums."

IDs mandatory at venues

This has been issued especially for hundreds of citizens as several offices and residential complexes are located in the vicinity of these stadiums.

In view of practice sessions and the main cycling event, similar directions have come from Gurgaon and Noida police, as a number of IT offices are located in both places. The offices are likely to remain closed on the opening and closing days of the event.

Nearly 100,000 security personnel have been deployed at games venues, including 3,000 commandos, 100 anti-sabotage teams, 200 dogs and 15 bomb squads. Over 150 officers of the Delhi Police's Specialist Weapons and Tactics Team have been trained by the Indian Air Force and the National Security Guards (NSG) to shoot down suspicious flying objects like paragliders.

Expert groups to tackle chemical, biological, radio-active or nuclear attacks will also be at hand. Three armoured vehicles, with 30 NSG commandos each, will be stationed at venues.