Obama visit: Maurya Hotel's 'virtual tour' disabled

Security concerns have forced authorities to disable the "virtual tour" of Hotel Maurya Sheraton where US President Barack Obama will stay during his visit to the capital beginning this Sunday.

The management has disabled the "online virtual tour" section in the Delhi hotel website, officials said.

The virtual tour enables a client to have a peek look at the facilities provided by the hotel as well as the layout of the rooms.

Interestingly, the websites of Maurya Hotels in Bangalore and Agra have the virtual tours running presently.

"Authorities are taking no chance with security measures and we are doing whatever is needed," a senior police official said.

Indian and US agencies were coordinating with each other and the security personnel have taken over the hotel and sanitised it before the President arrives here on Sunday from Mumbai. Obama will leave the country on Tuesday next.

The Maurya Sheraton on Sardar Patel Marg has already been turned into a virtual fortress with multiple rings of security. The hotel will be out of bounds for public during his stay there.

Around 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed in and around the hotel which had earlier hosted US Presidents Bill Clinton in 2000 and George W Bush in 2006 besides US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last year.

Proximity security to Obama will be given by his guards while the other cordons will be manned by personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel.

Sharp shooters are being deployed on high-rises on the routes which Obama takes to reach his destinations, the official said.

Security agencies are also ensuring fool-proof security for US First Lady Michelle Obama as she is expected to have her own programme during the visit. She is expected to visit some places and attend programmes in the city.