Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul announced yesterday that the BMC would appoint 50 commandos to protect its headquarters, hospitals and water projects.



"We relieved the commandos in our service a decade back because we thought they were not required. However, the recent terror attacks have underlined the need for deploying armed commandos immediately," said Raul.

The proposal to recruit the commandos will be placed during a group leader meeting at the BMC headquarters today.

"CCTVs, security guards and metal detectors aren't enough when terrorists go on a firing spree. We have to decide whether we should outsource the commandos or impart special training to our existing security guards," said Raul.

Raul further stressed on the need for a sounder policy on renting properties. "Often, rooms are rented to youths without crosschecking their identity and credentials. We are working on a policy, which will require that the owner of a property to submit identity papers of the people they are renting the property to, to the local BMC ward officer and police," explained Raul.

2 months' salary for our firemen
In recognition of the role played by Mumbai Fire Brigade personnel in rescuing people, and their assistance to NSG commandos during the recent terror attack, the BMC will pay two months' salary and two increments to all men who participated in the rescue operations.