Cargo scanners to screen vehicles entering Games village

In another step towards strengthening the security for the Commonwealth Games, Delhi Police will install cargo scanners to scan the vehicles entering the Games Village.

“These huge scanning machines will ensure no explosives or ammunition can be sneaked into the Games village site by hiding them in a vehicle,” said a senior police officer.

The police say they will hire the machines soon and the related process has already begun.

“We had advertised for the expression of interest to hire cargo scanners,” said Rajan Bhagat, spokesman, Delhi Police. “The process has begun and we have got a few responses.”

The scanners were also used during the last Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne in Australia.

A Delhi Police team had visited Melbourne then and a proposal was initiated to include such scanners at the Games venue in Delhi also.

The scanners will be manned by Delhi Police officials.

“Though only authorised vehicles will be allowed to enter the Games venue, it is to ensure no untoward incident takes place,” the officer said.

“If a truck carrying food items for the players has to enter the venue, each and every box need not be checked by the policemen. The scanner will ensure the contents of the truck are visible on the computer screen at the click of a button.”

In India, such a scanner only exists at Jawaharlal Nehru port in Mumbai.

“These scanners will also eliminate the chances of human error,”the officer said. “They will act as a counter check on the security personnel deployed at the Games venue.”

But police sources claimed not many companies had come forward to provide the scanners.

“Companies argue they are not ready to shell out so much money to bring these scanners as no one would buy them once they have been used,” another officer said.