New Delhi: Security measures at the Delhi Metro and the IGI airport of the capital city have been beefed up with the induction of over 600 fresh CISF personnel and commuters are being thoroughly frisked in view of the heightened vigil in the run up to the Independence Day on August 15, official sources said.

They also that said while passengers in the Delhi Metro are being twice checked before entering the Delhi Metro stations, additional CISF quick reaction teams (QRTs) and flying squads have been deployed at select stations that witness a heavy public rush or are important from the security point of view.

The Central Industrial Security Force, that is tasked to secure more than 210 stations of the metro in the national capital region, has enhanced the number of security personnel in the network to keep a better eye over the people and their luggage, the officials said.

Passengers getting inside at a number of airports in the city are being frisked twice, first manually and later with a hand-held metal detector, they said, adding that instructions have also been issued to the personnel to perform the job scrupulously but without taking much time.

“About 500 CISF personnel have been deployed additionally in the Delhi Metro network as part of the stepped up security measures in the wake of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15,” a senior official said.

CISF metro security chief Deputy Inspetor General (DIG) Raghubir Lal told News Agencies that they have already done meetings with various stakeholders like the Delhi Police, metro authorities and others as part of the drills undertaken to fortify security before August 15.

“A new control room, armed with over 5,000 CCTVs and other smart tools, has recently been commissioned for the CISF and it will help us in better monitoring operations at stations under its surveillance cover,” the DIG said.

Special teams of mufti-wearing intelligence and passenger profiling sleuths have also been deployed at every station and they have been directed to keep an eye on a few stations by continuously moving between them, another official said on the condition of anonymity.

The officials said similar measures have been taken at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport and passengers are randomly being made to undertake a second frisking, called the secondary ladder point check (SLPC).

“While there is no specific threat this time, the security is on high alert. All civilian passes issued to people for entering the terminal areas of the airport have been disallowed as a routine practice,” an official at the airport said.

About 100-150 additional Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel have been deployed at the airport to provide security and passengers may have to undergo a rigorous check of themselves and their luggage in certain cases.

“In specific cases, passengers may have to take off their shoes and belt before they are frisked. The number of plainclothes personnel who spot trouble, both outside and inside the airport, have been enhanced,” he said.

The official added that vigil has also been increased and a close eye is being kept at all category of vehicles entering the airport area.

Different events, which also includes the main function at Red Fort where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the national flag, will be held in the national capital and the NCR to celebrate the 72nd Independence Day on August 15.

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