Air surveillance,4-tier security,traffic plan on anvil

“We will be looking not only into securing the Games. We have taken care of the security of the entire city and assure a safe and secure Commonwealth Games,” said Dadwal.

Dadwal said that all Games venues,the Games Village,practice grounds,parking lots and the Indira Gandhi International Airport will have a four-layered security cordon.

Besides the cordon,there will be snipers on rooftops,commando hit teams and quick reaction teams to tackle any chemical,biological,radioactive or nuclear attack. All the venues for the Games,and the Games village and hotels,will be “locked down” a week before the start of the event after extensive anti-sabotage checks.

“Not even a policeman can enter any of these areas unless he is authorised to do so and is properly identified,” said Dadwal.

He said security personnel will be given identity cards which cannot be duplicated to guard against the threat of an attack by impostors.

Neeraj Kumar,Special Commissioner (Administration),said that after considering the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers earlier this year in Pakistan,the route network for athletes has been identified and surveyed. “We have marked alternate routes in case of an emergency. There will be some surprise element in our strategy,” he said. On the route between airport and the Games Village,there will be 15 intervention bases at a distance of two kilometres each.

Kumar also said that the Indian Air Force will help with air surveillance. “Helicopter-borne assault teams will be deployed to thwart any terror strikes,” he said.

Even the food prepared and served for the Games participants and guests in hotels will pass through security personnel and be tested by food experts.

For the road events,Kumar said special traffic arrangements have been made. “All buildings on the route will be secured and sanitised. Telephone boxes and electric boxes will also be sanitised,” Kumar said.

Commonwealth Games would see the participation of around 8,500 athletes from 71 countries competing in 17 events.

For the smooth flow of traffic in the city,Dadwal said that an exclusive lane will be provided. “The vehicles engaged in the Commonwealth Games will have an exclusive lane so that their movement remains smooth,” he said.

‘Shut shop on closing day’
Delhi Police may ask traders and other offices to close their enterprises on the closing day of the Commonwealth Games to avoid traffic jams and other problems. City Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal said the closing ceremony is scheduled for Thursday and offices can swap their Saturday-offs and remain closed on that day. The police may also ask traders to close their shops and stay open on another day. “We will see a lot of rush on these days. We will appeal to offices and shops to remain closed on that day,” he said. He also said the police will urge people to use Delhi Metro as much as they can.