Tuesday, January 18 2005 17:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: This year's traditional Republic Day Parade in the capital will be shortened by 45 minutes with a view to sustain public interest and participation.

"The duration has been reduced. It is just too long," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Jan 18, 2005) said in New Delhi, with Ministry sources asserting that the move had nothing to do with the tsunami disaster.

The sources said the duration of the parade will be reduced from two and a half hours to one hour and 45 minutes.

The decision was taken by the Republic Day Committee at a recent meeting, the sources said, adding that the 150-minute duration was too long to keep the interest of the people.

While school children's contingents from Delhi have been reduced from six to three, the five from other zones remain the same.

Instead of 29 tableaux, there would be 22 this time and the marching contingents of the Armed and Paramilitary forces have been reduced from 29 to 22, the sources added.