The car is driven by a person trained by the Secret Service to make escapes and perform 180-degree turns. (Agence France-Presse)
When President Barack Obama arrives in Delhi on Sunday, he will land in the world's most sophisticated aircraft, Air Force One. Landing well ahead of him will be special transport planes that will bring to Delhi the Beast and its stand-in - bulletproof and mine-proof limousines - which will be used by the President.
While one limo is on stand-by, the Beast - the real thing - will include the President, a small blood bank and a doctor selected by the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has still not been decided if President Obama will share President Pranab Mukherjee's car to the Republic Day Parade on Rajpath in the heart of Delhi. Indian officials have reportedly told their US counterparts that though it would be preferable for the Presidents to travel together, if the Beast is deemed necessary, it can be a part of President Mukherjee's convoy to the parade.
On January 27th, President Obama will fly on Air Force One from Delhi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. The plane will land at the Indian Air Force base. It's not clear yet if the President will then drive in the Beast to the monument, or use a helicopter to land near the monument.
While President Obama is in Agra, it will be a no-fly zone for commercial airlines.
The Taj Mahal will be made exclusively available to President Obama. The monument will shut down for the public but timings have yet to be shared by officials. It is likely to reopen for tourists on January 28th.
In Agra, Secret Service agents yesterday completed a recce of the Taj Mahal; they were accompanied by commandos of the Agra Police. The 360 secret service agents who handle the President's innermost circle of security have arrived in India accompanied by seven Belgian Malinois sniffer dogs.
All hotels in Agra have been asked to ensure that their security cameras are working and that complete lists of guests are maintained and shared with local intelligence officials. Security has been increased at train and bus stations.
Special security personnel and sharp shooters will be placed in high-rises in Agra.
The President will fly out of Delhi on January 27th.