The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) may soon formally be asked to cover the security of Delhi and Kolkata underground metro railway networks.
MUMBAI: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) may soon formally be asked to cover the security of Delhi and Kolkata underground metro railway networks as part of an elaborate security augmentation exercise. It is part of the central government’s plan aimed at safeguarding the underground mass-transit services from possible terror hits.
The CISF presently provides security to airports and seaports apart from guarding vital and sensitive atomic installations and other energy assets across the country.
The CISF may also be asked to guard the upcoming Mumbai and Bangalore metro systems. Sources said a Union cabinet note is pending clearance in this regard.
“The Centre has sort of agreed to hand over the security of the metro networks to the CISF,” said a top CISF officer.
Sources said mounting threat from international jihadist terrorists have spurred the Centre to decide on a ‘foolproof’ security architecture for the underground railways networks.
Recent intelligence inputs suggest heightened vulnerability for the metro trains as terrorist groups seem to indulge in targeting mass-transit systems across the country. “Any well-coordinated terrorist strike at the underground railways network could have catastrophic effects.
Since the CISF is a trained force it can work towards mitigating possibilities of underground disasters. Also the need of the hour is to have a holistic security plan in place — a blueprint which can pre-empt terror attacks on trains and at the serpentine underground tunnels as well,” said an intelligence official.
Following last year’s Mumbai commuter trains bombings, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had requested the Centre for a complete CISF cover for its metro network but to no avail. Presently the Delhi metro security is managed party by the CISF and the Delhi police.
As part of the new system the CISF is expected to devise its own comprehensive security apparatus tailor-made for the metro systems and properties. The ‘security package’ will comprise state-of-the-art warning systems, intelligent cameras, X-ray scanners, explosives detectors and under carriage trolley mirrors.
“Other things which are planned include increased tunnel inspection and unleashing special canine programmes and targeted train inspections,” another senior CISF
officer.
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