Mumbai: 

WORRIED: Jairaj Phatak (left) and R R Patil

Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak met Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil yesterday to discuss security issues in civic hospitals in the city. The meeting was held in the wake of the serial blasts in Ahmedabad on July 26. One of the bombs had exploded outside a civil hospital.

Phatak has asked Patil to strengthen security measures in such hospitals. There are plans to hire private security guards and install closed circuit television cameras and metal detectors in all hospitals. "Our priority is to tighten the security in civic hospitals. The deputy chief minister has assured to act promptly on the issue," said Phatak. 

Phatak is also scheduled to meet Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today. "I will reveal plans to the public or the CM will address the media on this issue only after our meeting," Phatak added.

There are around 70 hospitals in Mumbai that are either run by the BMC or other government agencies.