NEW DELHI: Passengers planning to travel from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport between January 19 and 26, 2025, should prepare for significant flight restrictions. The measures have been implemented to ensure security during the Republic Day celebrations, and thousands of travelers may be impacted during this period.

According to the airport operator, flight arrivals and departures will be completely halted during specific hours. In a recent announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) stated, “As per the NOTAM issued for Republic Day from 19th to 26th Jan, no flights would be arriving or departing from Delhi Airport between 10:20 am to 12:45 pm IST. For updated flight information, passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines.”

The restrictions will remain in place until January 26, affecting Delhi’s IGI Airport, which is the busiest in India, handling approximately 1,300 flight movements daily. Travelers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and check with their airlines to avoid any inconvenience.

Republic Day Parade Highlights

This year, 35 individuals from the Northeast have been invited to witness the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. The group includes women entrepreneurs, National Award winners, and beneficiaries of flagship government initiatives. Members of self-help groups actively working on environmental protection, nutrition, sanitation, and gender empowerment are also part of this delegation.

Out of these 35 guests, eight are from Assam, 22 from Sikkim, and five from Meghalaya, the officials said.

The theme for the Republic Day Parade tableaux is 'Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas', emphasizing India’s heritage and development. A total of 15 states and union territories will participate in the parade with their displays, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Dadar Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu.

Meanwhile, to ensure a safe and secure Republic Day celebration on January 26, Delhi Police has tightened security in the capital from January 18 to February 1. As part of these precautions, authorities have banned the use of drones and other small flying devices in Delhi to minimize potential risks. Anyone found violating these rules will be taken to court.