Traffic, crowd control, private sleuths gear up for Commonwealth Games

For the Commonwealth Games, while the police and paramilitary forces focus on high threats such as an aerial bomb attack or sabotage, private security agencies are expected to monitor traffic, attend to parking woes and manage crowds at the various venues.

These agencies are gearing up to match international standards by supplementing manpower base, conducting specialised event security training and engaging foreign experts.

According to Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), the Delhi government is in the process of finalising the requirement and accordingly the roles and duties of private security agencies would be defined at an appropriate time.

"In Delhi, there are around 3 lakh security personnel working in private agencies.

We will provide security to all the civil establishments built especially for the Commonwealth Games," Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman, CAPSI told PTI adding that they have already provided the names of 27 selected agencies to the government.

Major buyers boosting demand during CWG 2010 would be CWG Organising Committee, venue owners, hotels, malls, movie theatres, tourist attractions like ASI monuments and museums, he says.

Private agency officials say the threat perception in India would be much bigger when compared to CWG 2006 in Melbourne as the number of athletes, organisers, spectators and general public is expected to surpass than the one in Australia.

"We have added additional 5000 security personnel in Delhi to meet the requirements and signed an MoU with an event security specialist company from Australia to develop and deliver specialist training to our security personnel," says Rituraj Sinha, COO, Security and Intelligence Services (SIS).

He adds, "We would also be bringing experts having past experience of handling Sydney Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games."

According to SIS, the Games related activities are expected to add an additional business of Rs 300- Rs 350 crores in business revenue for the Indian security industry that is currently estimated at around Rs 10,000 crores.

"There is nothing from the government but a few private entities have contacted us to help them out in their mega events connected with CWG during the period," says Mansi Gupta, VP-Marketing, G4S India, a leading private security agency in the capital.

Rajiv Mathur, Director, Vision Secure Technologies, says, "Regular training courses are being conducted for security personnel to improve language and soft skills. We have also engaged international experts, foreign methodology and training techniques to match up to the international standards of security."

According to a rough estimates by an industry insider, the Delhi police and venue owners would be installing over 5000 security cameras for surveillance purposes.

"Over 1000 metal detectors and 200 baggage X-ray machines will also be used," he says.

Mathur adds, "Integration of various security systems like CCTV and communications medium is being done at the Central Control Room, smart cards for identification of players and visitors are being prepared, video images from a flying balloon would be installed at stadiums and venues."

After the Mumbai terror strikes in 2008 and the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, security for the sporting event which would feature athletes from over 71 nations will be of a grave concern, says a senior Delhi police official.