New Delhi, Jan 20: Heightened terrorist threat to the national capital triggered by Parliament attack forced the authorities to shorten the route of the country's main Republic Day parade for the second year in succession. In view of concerns about security, this year's parade will be shorter by three kilometers against the traditional one of 11 kilometers, as was done last year, police and defence sources told a news agency here today. Authorities decided to skip some congested old Delhi areas after security agencies voiced apprehensions about protection of marching contingents and various tableux of the defence forces, ministries and states, they said.
The route of the parade, which starts from Vijay Chowk, marches down the historic Rajpath and culminates at red fort after criss-crossing many areas of the city, was curtailed for the first time in 50 years last year when the threat perception heightened following the terror attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001. Bureau Report