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Say suggestion to keep an eye on suspicious movement from the sea is impractical

Keeping Vigil: Even though most hotels scoff at the new guideline, The Ambassador Hotel at Marine Drive has decided to have a security guard at its revolving restaurant.

Several Mumbai hoteliers have termed Mumbai police's suggestion to station personnel equipped with binoculars on the roofs to keep an eye on suspicious movement in the sea as impractical.

The suggestion is one in the list of many guidelines (see box) issued by the Mumbai police following the 26/11 terror attacks.

The terrorists, who launched the attacks in the city, including ones inside the Taj Mahal, Oberoi and Trident hotels, are believed to have entered Mumbai through the sea route.

"I find the police's suggestion weird. How can a security guard recognise suspicious movement in the sea? We have not placed any guards on the rooftop since it is not feasible," said a hotelier from south Mumbai, who did not wished to be named.
 
Following rules

Other hotels like The Ambassador at Churchgate, have decided to follow the guideline, and have in the process, given it their own twist.

"We have restaurants on the top of the building, so we have beefed up security there. However, our men don't monitor the sea.

They keep an eye on the suspicious movements in and around the hotel," said Koustav Mukherjee, the food and beverage manager of The Ambassador.
 
A spokesperson from Hotel & Restaurant Association (Western India), however, said that most member-hotels in Mumbai had already stationed guards to monitor the sea as per guidelines laid down by the police.
 
The Taj spokesperson said refused to divulge details, but said that the hotel security was in line with what the 'authorities have proposed'.

"There have been several meetings between the Taj security team and the police in the last few months," the spokesperson said.
 
However, Deputy Commissioner of Police  (Zone-1), Vishwas Nagre-Patil, revealed that all establishments near the sea have been issued a set of guidelines to follow.

"Hotels too have been issued the guidelines. We have taken adequate security measures. We are also keeping our eyes open for any suspicious movement in the sea," he said.

Police guidelines to hotels

Install CCTV cameras

Get door and hand-held metal detectors

Use baggage scanners

Install fire and burglar alarms

Use video door phones

Frisk visitors and customers at the hotel

Provide photo ID to staff and other officials

Deploy security guards Station guards equipped with binoculars to keep a watch on the sea

Get police to verify background of staff before appointing them