The president, who is scheduled to set off on a twice-postponed Asian tour with his wife Michelle after next week’s midterms, has reportedly block-booked all 570 rooms in the Taj Mahal hotel as a security measure. On top of that, US navy ships will also be deployed, as the president is staying in a hotel by the ocean.

The 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks which claimed at least 173 lives, ended with a siege at the Taj Mahal hotel.

“There are two jumbo jets coming along with Air Force One, which will be flanked by security jets. The President’s convoy has 45 cars.”

The Economic Times also reported that Mr Obama’s delegation is so large that another 300 rooms have reportedly been booked in other luxury Mumbai hotels.

The scale and cost of the visit is certain to provoke criticism from Mr Obama’s Republican foes in the US at a time when the country is mired in economic difficulties, with unemployment standing at nearly 10 per cent.