New Delhi

Prime concern on security for C’wealth Games

Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Attention: Construction work in full swing at the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee (Talkatora) Swimming Pool Complex, one of the venue for the Commonwealth Games 2010, in New Delhi on Sunday.

NEW DELHI: The Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games is pulling out all stops to ensure that all security measures are in place in the run-up to as well as during the mega sporting event in the Capital next year.

After the Asian Games of 1982, India will host its biggest sporting event. “Given the fact that international sporting events have been targeted by terrorists in the past, we are meticulously planning the conduct of the Games. In every sporting event, whether it is the Asian Games or the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics, an Organising Committee is formed for this purpose. That is the standard format everywhere,” says Organising Committee Additional Director-General Ashok Vasudeva.

For the Commonwealth Games in the Capital there are 23 sporting, 32 training and seven non-sporting venues. “Each venue will have its own security parameters. There can be no comparison between the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Thyagaraja Stadium on the level of security required. The Commonwealth Games Village near the Akshardham Temple will have a capacity to accommodate 8,000 sportspersons and officials. To keep each venue well fortified, the Electronics Corporation of India Limited, a government body, is installing electronic surveillance like CCTV, door frame metal detectors and hand-held metal detectors,” said Lt. Gen. Vasudeva.

Since keeping the city out of bounds for militants will be a mammoth task, a number of agencies are involved. But the security cover will be unobtrusive even though the country’s premier security force, the National Security Guard commandos, will be ready at the beck and call of the administration.

Entry to the sprawling Pragati Maidan that will house the Media Centre and the International Broadcasting Centre will be through accreditation cards only. At the sporting venues, tickets of visitors will be checked for coding. Bullet-proof buses will be acquired for ferrying athletes to the venues. Technology will play an important role in the overall security plans.

“As the threat perception continues to be grave, we don’t want a situation where participating countries refuse to participate in the Games. Since a large number of people from both within the country and abroad would be descending on the Capital to watch the Games live, security would be the prime concern,” said Committee’s ADG.

The Organising Committee is evolving plans to keep the city well fortified and coordinating with the Delhi police on a regular basis.

As the Delhi Developing Authority, the Sports Authority of India and Emaar MGF are the “venue owners”, they have been asked to ensure that no strangers are allowed anywhere near the construction sites. days explosives are available which can be easily embedded inside buildings and the timing of the explosion fixed. The Delhi police is coordinating with the builders and keeping a tab on the construction sites,” said an official at the Committee.

There are also plans afoot to do an aerial survey of the entire city and undertake reconnaissance missions.

“A number of proposals like involving Israeli security companies during the Games have been forwarded to the Lieutenant-Governor. To keep the city safe, we need the support of the public. We will involve youngsters from Delhi University and other colleges to create awareness about what the public can do to see that the Games are held safely. We want the man on the street to assist the police,” said the official.

During the Games there will restrictions on movement of vehicles and certain roads will be out of bounds for traffic, said the official.

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