New Delhi: Visiting US President Barack Obama's 60-vehicle motorcade which drove down the roads of the Indian capital Sunday included his two Beasts, the armoured presidential limousines, on the first day of his three-day visit.
The huge motorcade was also escorted by Delhi Police gypsies. The route was out of bounds for the general public during the US president's movement.
It took just five minutes in the forenoon for the motorcade to reach ITC Maurya Hotel from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, which is 10 km away.
One of the Beasts, in the middle of the cavalcade, carried Obama and his wife Michelle.
As many as 300 officials of the US Secret Service remained around Obama providing security cover, a Delhi Police official actively involved in the US president's security arrangements said.
At least 40 vehicles have been requisitioned for the officials of the US Secret Service. Two routes were prepared from Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi (memorial) at Rajghat to the President's House.
As the huge motorcade moved, the national flags of the two nations (India and US) greeted them along Saradar Patel Marg, Panchsheel Marg, Mathura Road, and Kautilya Marg.