Security arrangements around Central Park in Connaught Place were stepped up on Friday, with officers deployed ahead of a gathering organised by the Congress Janta Party (CJP). The CJP urged members of the public to gather at the park by five o'clock that evening, national flags in hand.

The Aam Aadmi Party issued a broad call for attendance, directed at party workers, supporters, and ordinary citizens alike. In anticipation of the event, Delhi Police positioned roughly 6,000 police and paramilitary personnel across the city as part of a broad security operation.

Between 30 and 35 additional units, each fitted with both audio and visual recording technology, were mounted across the facility to broaden monitoring coverage. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were put in place by Delhi Police across Connaught Place and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Delhi Police stated that breaches of the directive would be referred for prosecution.

Central Park's gates are set to remain shut on 16 and 17 October, with the NDMC having informed Delhi Police that the closure stems from administrative needs. A request for police deployment to block unauthorised access and maintain security at the park was also lodged. Access to Central Park for members of the public is set to be restricted through both Friday and Saturday.

Intelligence inputs pointing to a potential for unrest at the planned protest prompted Delhi Police to reinforce its presence at Connaught Place and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Officers called on residents to stay away from the demonstration and keep the atmosphere calm, urging that no disruptive episodes take place.

Officers also drew attention to requirements around the national flag and anthem, noting that both are to be treated with appropriate respect and handled in line with accepted ceremonial procedures. Officers indicated they were prepared to accommodate a contingent of 11 individuals wishing to perform the national anthem together beneath an unfurled national flag.

In a submission to the High Court on Thursday, Delhi Police committed to upholding public order through whatever steps prove necessary. Under the arrangement outlined, eleven people would be permitted to perform the national anthem while holding the flag, on the condition that a fitting venue could be secured and the relevant regulations were observed throughout.

Vendors and market bodies spanning Connaught Place and its surrounding trading areas raised fears that the demonstration stands to interfere with commercial activity. Visitor numbers at the market tend to climb once the holiday period gets under way. Vendors pointed out that routine trade should continue unimpeded even as the need for security measures was taken into account, and called on both law enforcement and local authorities to keep the area protected while allowing commerce to continue without interruption.

A notice from Delhi Traffic Police warned of likely movement delays across Connaught Place and the New Delhi area starting at 3 PM on Friday. Those travelling by road were urged to switch to public transport where possible. Diversions to traffic flow may be put in place if conditions at the scene warrant them, officers noted.

Drivers on affected roads were asked to heed the guidance of officers stationed along those routes and seek alternative paths where disruption is expected. Motorists travelling through parts of New Delhi were advised to expect possible disruptions along a corridor taking in Sansad Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Panchkuian Road, Basant Lane, Chelmsford Road, Minto Road, Barakhamba Road, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, and Janpath.

Travel disruptions were also anticipated around a cluster of central locations, among them Rail Bhawan, Rafi Marg, C-Hexagon, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, Windsor Place, and Gol Dak Khana. Portions of Ashoka Road running from the GPO through to C-Hexagon, along with Tilak Marg, Tolstoy Marg, and Sikandra Road, were among the routes identified as potentially facing disruption.

Preserving order and safety across the city, along with the protection of both public and private property, was described by the force as its foremost operational commitment. Delhi Police called on people to respect applicable laws, keep the peace, and allow commerce and daily life around Connaught Place and its neighbouring markets to continue without interruption.