Chidambaram takes stock of Commonwealth Games' security

New Delhi: Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday held a high-level meeting to take stock of security for the Commonwealth Games beginning October 3 in New Delhi.

Top officials including Home Secretary G K Pillai, Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal and senior officials from Intelligence agencies and National Security Guards briefed him about the measures for the mega sporting event.

Dadwal is understood to have given a presentation on deployment of security personnel, traffic management and contingency plan for emergency.

A four-tier security apparatus with Army back-up will be in place during the Games. The Delhi Police and NSG Commandos will be responsible for the security during the Games. Helicopters will also be used for surveillance.

Police will take over venues from September 7. "All security overlays of Commonwealth Games will be completed by September 15, after which another review will be done," the Home Minister said after the meeting.

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Over 10,000 athletes from 71 countries and 500,000 spectators are expected at the Games.

According to the security plan, athletes, officials and guests can visit the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium only by bus and no VIPs, except the heads of state, will be allowed to take their cars in. Parking arrangement has been made for 150 buses at the stadium.

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Each of the 13 competition venues for the Commonwealth Games will have a tight security ring and special arrangements will be made to transport the athletes to and from the Games Village. Helicopters and NSG commandos will keep an eye on the convoy.

This is aimed to prevent incidents like the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore in March 2009.

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To ensure fleet security, each of the 574 vehicles to be used for ferrying athletes across the city will have to undergo mandatory anti-sabotage clearance every morning before athletes board them.

Besides, after the takeover of all venues and the Village, security agencies will start their work for erecting metal barriers, tyre busters, CCTV and metal detectors and conduct anti-sabotage drills.

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"The security will be similar to that in Parliament," an official said.

Mock security drill will be held by security agencies and electronic bar codes will be provided to authorised cars and buses.

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The security forces are likely to take over the venues from September 7, a week before the arrival of the first batch of athletes and officials. (With PTI inputs)