NEWS
· US to spend $200 mn a day on Obama's Mumbai visit
Press Trust of India, Updated: November 02, 2010 21:07 IST
Mumbai: The US would be spending a whopping $200 million (Rs 900 crore approx) per day on President Barack Obama's visit to the city.
"The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said.
About 3,000 people including Secret Service agents, US government officials and journalists would accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and US security agencies are already here for the past one week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments.
"Except for personnel providing immediate security to the President, the US officials may not be allowed to carry weapons. The state police is competent to take care of the security measures and they would be piloting the Presidential convoy," the official said on condition of anonymity.
"The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said.
About 3,000 people including Secret Service agents, US government officials and journalists would accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and US security agencies are already here for the past one week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments.
"Except for personnel providing immediate security to the President, the US officials may not be allowed to carry weapons. The state police is competent to take care of the security measures and they would be piloting the Presidential convoy," the official said on condition of anonymity.
The visit - part of a 10-trip to Asia - will take place amid unprecedented levels of security in the city of Mumbai, where terrorists killed at least 173 people two years ago.
Extreme measures to ensure the safety of President Obama will include the complete booking of the 570-room Taj Mahal Hotel for his security entourage.
High security: The visit to India by President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle is reportedly costing the U.S. $200m-a-day
The building saw some of the fiercest fighting between Islamic militant gunmen and security forces during the November 2008 atrocity.
Other precautions include the use of helicopters, US and Indian Navy ships to patrol the Mumbai waterfront and the use of sophisticated surveillance equipment.
Target: The Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai burns during the 2008 terror attack. President Obama is due to visit the building, which has been booked out by his staff
The source added: 'The state police is competent to take care of the security measures and they would be piloting the Presidential convoy.'
Details of the three-day visit which begins officially on Saturday are not being confirmed, but Indian Press reported the President was expected to spend the first day visiting the Taj Mahal Hotel and meeting survivors of the attacks.
The second day will reportedly see the President and First Lady meeting Mumbai school children and University students while the final day will involve a trip to New Delhi. [SO JUST WHAT IN THE HELL IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRIP? ESPECIALLY THE $600,000,000 FOR THE THREE DAYS IN INDIA?]
The visit could spark fury in the U.S. where officials are battling to reduce a record budget deficit, and heap further misery on beleaguered Democrats in the mid-term elections.
Guarded: Even as a Presidential candidate, Barack Obama required special security measures
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325990/Obamas-200m-day-India-visit-picked-US-taxpayers.html#ixzz14Aq1vxnG
