21 November,2010 07:07 AM IST | | Alisha Coelho
After a blitz of security measures being implemented after the November 26, 2008 terror attacks, city offices are back to being lackadaisical about security measures. Only 50 per cernt of clients who'd signed up continue to be on their roster, say security agencies
Two years after the blitz of security upgradation at public places and corporate houses across the city, in the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attacks, only a part of the initial fervour has been sustained, says reports from security agencies. This, when Mumbai will mark the second anniversary of the November 26, 2008 terror attacks in a week from now.
Security companies had seen a sudden spurt in requests for more guards, metal detectors, scanners and CCTV cameras in the wake of the terror attacks, but these have dwindled, first brought down by the economic downturn, followed by complacency.
Pramoud Rao, Managing Director of Zicom Electronic Security says only 50 per cent of companies that signed up in the months following the attacks, remain their clients. "Now, there's a false sense of security even though detectors don't work and guards check your bags within seconds. It's a downgrade that's simply a waste of money," says Rao, who maintains that institutes are more concerned with creating a fear psychosis than being prepared to tackle a situation.
Like most other businesses, this sector has also bounced back, but with hardly the same gusto. "The economy is recovering slowly and people are going back to their security regimen. But we haven't reached there quite yet," says Nilendu Mitra of TOPSGRUP, adding that it's a stalemate of sorts. "Corporate offices in the city are neither adequately protected nor severely compromised."
Security experts agree that this has largely to do with the mindset of corporates. Som Gangopadhyay, Vice President, Gunnebo India, who is organising a security conference next week on security issues following the attacks, says few corporates make regular checks a part of their agenda. "Very few CEOs make security and safety audit a norm. Since there are no rules making themmandatory, most tend to gloss over them. Mumbai and Delhi are perhaps better prepared than other cities to handle a situation like the 26/11 attacks, but have we reached the pinnacle of safety awareness?
I hardly think so," says Gangopadhyay.
