The Government is mulling enhancing the CISF manpower by over 2,100 personnel keeping in view the increasing load of passengers and consequently emerging security challenges in the Delhi Metro network running across the national capital region. A proposal in this regard had been prepared by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and submitted to the Union Home Ministry in the backdrop of an ever increasing footfall of about 26 lakh commuters every day and the strain on existing manpower to ensure foolproof security to this sensitive rapid rail network.
As per official data while the total existing deployment strength of the central paramilitary forces to secure the Delhi Metro network is 4,869, the augmentation proposal under consideration by the Home Ministry in this regard is 2,120 additional CISF men and women. The proposal has been prepared in coordination with central security agencies.
Officials said this strength is the minimum required to effectively secure the fully operational I and II phases of the Metro and it is expected that the Home Ministry will soon give its final sanction for the new manpower. The force also plans to use the new manpower in keeping a bird eye’s view on the outer peripheries of these stations and enhance its patrols and quick reaction teams to sanitize areas like parking lots and main entry and exit points from the point of anti-terror strike surveillance.
