Bigwigs assure safe & sound Commonwealth Games

The driving habits of people of Delhi was one of the matters of discussion even as the national security agencies promised fool proof security for next year’s Commonwealth Games to delegates at the International Security Liaison Conference here on Wednesday.

Just a day after home minister P Chidambaram advised Delhiites to mend their ways on roads, the issue of bad driving, especially on roundabouts, was reportedly brought up by one of the delegates from among 26 Commonwealth countries who attended the first day of the two-day conference.

The visiting delegates were given assurances from minister of state for home affairs, Ajay Maken, and Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who said that the arrangements would be foolproof for the much awaited event.

“We have been working on the security aspects from as early as November 2005 when the first workshop on security was held,” said Kalmadi at the conference, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games.

The Delhi Police too gave a detailed presentation of an elaborate three-tier security cover with thousands of close circuit TVs, aerial surveillance and police personnel keeping a close vigil in the city. The NSG commandos would be omnipresent at the games venues.

In addition, over 300 ambulances and three hospitals with more than 500 beds will be in readiness to deal with either any terror related situation or other emergencies happening during the games. Over 200 CCTV cameras would keep a close watch during the games.

The two-day conference is being attended by 76 delegates from 26 countries. They include experts from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Home secretary GK Pillai assured the heads of missions that the games do not face any specific threat from any of the terrorist organisations. The visiting delegates will be taken to various venues on Thursday.