Govt decides hubs for NSG

Centre announced that four additional NSG hubs would be located in Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Putting an end to competitive claims by many state governments, the Centre on Monday announced that the four additional NSG hubs to be set up in the country would be located in Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

In the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, the Government had decided to base NSG personnel at multiple locations in a bid to cut down travel time in the event of an emergency. As of now, the NSG is based only in Manesar, near Gurgaon.

A number of state governments had been lobbying with the Centre to have the hubs in their respective areas, including Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Bangalore was also one of the contenders for an NSG centre.

Home Ministry sources said the final locations were decided on the basis of vulnerability of the surrounding areas and the need to bring most of the country within easy reach of NSG commandos.

Senior Home Ministry officials today made an assessment of the requirements of the NSG in view of its expansion plans and also discussed the possible timeline for the new hubs to come into operation.

NSG Director General J K Dutt told reporters after the meeting that the existing strength of the force would be used first. 8220;Augmentation will happen in due process, but the new hubs will start functioning before that. We have the requisite number of officers to initiate the process,8221; he said.

Asked about the need to free NSG personnel from VIP security duty, Dutt said: 8220;That is not something that I have to decide. It will help the force to get more staff, regardless of where they come from.8221;

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Dutt said the meeting also discussed modernisation plans, including the procurement of new equipment. On the proposal to have a dedicated airplane for the NSG, he said: 8220;The question is not whether the NSG should or should not have a dedicated aircraft. Everyone agrees there should be one. The question is of logistics. Whether we have the resources to have an aircraft dedicated for the use of the NSG. We are looking into that.8221;

Meanwhile, in the continuing efforts by India and the US to help each other out in the fight against terrorism, US Director of National Intelligence John Michel McConnell called on Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday and discussed the Mumbai terror attacks. US Ambassador to India David C Mulford was also present during the meeting.