It was supposed to be an event for the public but there was hardly anybody to cheer on the participants as the Beijing [Images] Olympic torch relay was held along the historic Rajpath in New Delhi on Thursday.

With a heavy security blanket in place, common people were kept away from the event, which gave an impression of a formality being conducted amid dominating presence of police personnel and officials.

"Light the passion, Share the Dream," proclaimed the banners of the buses of Olympic organisers that criss-crossed the Rajpath, but there was hardly any public to associate with the slogan.

The lush green flanks of the 2.3 km route, from the Rashtrapati Bhavan [Images] to India Gate, had only the presence of hordes of police personnel keeping a vigil to prevent any disruption of the programme.

Even several media persons, who had been given special I-cards by the Indian Olympic Association, were not allowed to cover the programme freely as they were kept away from the starting and culminating point of the relay.