Popular hangouts for many Bengalureans — M.G. Road, Brigade Road, and Church Street, among others, in the central business district (CBD) — will shortly have round-the-clock surveillance with armed police personnel providing security.
As many as 300 personnel from the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force, currently providing cover to key installations in the city, are being withdrawn and deployed exclusively in a radius of 3 km of the Vidhana Soudha.
The area in the 3-km radius has a large number of public and private offices, business establishments, and popular restaurants, and is densely crowded.
The decision to step up surveillance follows the December 28 bomb blast on Church Street in which a woman was killed and four people were injured.
Smart City project Part of the Smart City project, the move will not only secure the CBD, which attracts several thousands of people daily, but will also enable the armed police personnel to reach the spot in case of any eventuality.
“The personnel will be deployed in shifts and provided 160 motorcycles and 80 jeeps. The process of procuring the vehicles is on,” Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi told The Hindu .
Besides personnel deployment, 3,000 advanced CCTV cameras will be installed in sensitive areas and a dedicated control room to monitor the cameras round the clock would be established.
‘Launch soon’
“The project will be launched soon, as men are ready and the process of purchasing equipment is under way. The move will also act as a deterrent,” he said, and added that the Union government would fund the procurement of equipment.
