In Pics | How US is gearing up for Joe Biden's inauguration

About 34 years after first seeking the job, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th US president on January 20, 2021, drawing a curtain on the most tumultuous administration of modern times. Let us take a look at how the US Capitol is preparing for the inauguration (compiled with inputs from agencies):

The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden will take place in a Washington on edge, after the deadly riot at the US Capitol unleashed a wave of fear and unmatched security concerns. Credit: AFP Photo

Official Washington has taken on the dystopian look of an armed camp, protected by some 25,000 National Guard troops tasked with preventing any repeat of the US Capitol violence. Credit: AFP Photo

With the pandemic raging, the general public is essentially barred from attending the swearing-in ceremony, leading to unprecedented optics: an empty National Mall on Inauguration Day. Credit: AFP Photo

Tanks and concrete barriers block the streets. Fencing lines the perimeter of the US Capitol complex. Checkpoints sit at intersections. Credit: AFP Photo

On the Mall's grassy expanse, some 200,000 flags have been planted to represent the absent crowds at the inauguration. Credit: AFP Photo

Inauguration eve is normally a time of massive crowds gathering in the capital, but Biden, joined by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, was almost alone at the reflecting pool. Credit: AFP Photo

Biden's inaugural speech will last between 20 and 30 minutes, according to a report by AFP. It states that

To symbolise the new spirit, Biden has invited the two top senators -- Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mitch McConnell -- and other congressional leaders to attend a church service with him Wednesday before the inauguration. Credit: AFP Photo