Mumbai: Security to be beefed up at Mantralaya after 3 suicide attempts

A man who threatened to jump off Mantralaya in November 2017 Tenders will be floated soon for procuring modern machines and equipment to increase its security File picThe Mantralaya mandarins seem to have woken up from deep slumber after successive suicide attempts by visitors to it rocked the state The administration wants Mantralaya to turn into a highsecurity fortress where modern technology and trained manpower will prevent any untoward incidentAlso read Mumbai Farmer who attempted suicide at Mantralaya dies in JJ hospitalSecurity agencies like the Mumbai Police have always asked for modern gadgets such as seamlessly working scanners trained manpower a highly sensitive peripheral and inhouse close circuit camera network but in vainNeed for a new set upHowever sources said the administration has realised the need to bring in a new set up that will control access and manage visitors It will not only secure visitors but also look after the very important personsSecurity measures were enhanced after a series of terror attacks in the past decade but the equipment procured in the past does not function properly mainly because of maintenance issues There have been attempts to secure the boundary of Mantralaya but it still remains a larger concernThree suicide attempts in the past 15 days of which one was successful have put the police personnel under tremendous pressure On Wednesday 24yearold Avinash Shetye tried to kill himself near the Garden GateShetye was promised that his examination papers would be revaluated Agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar assured him of help Shetye claimed that he did not get into the recruitment merit list for an agriculture assistants vacancy because of undervaluationRelying more on technologyAdditional force has been deployed in the surrounding area so that any suspicious activity or person can be tracked said a senior police officerFor managing security inside the HQ including entrance from the gates a deputy commissioner leads the team Similarly a DCP is also appointed exclusively for Vidhan Bhavan But since Vidhan Bhavan works as an autonomous unit it gets all the good gadgets whereas Mantralaya faces redtapism said a Mantralaya officerScanners dont work CCTVs are of poor quality and what makes Mantralaya security less effective are the police who dont take the job seriously The rank and file take this duty as side posting said a secretarylevel officerThe police top brass has decided to rely more on technology We should use best of technology and train personnel said another bureaucrat Tenders will be floated soon for procuring modern machines and equipment The work is expected to finish by May this yearMultilayer securitygtgt Peripheral guard Equipment and personnel deploymentgtgt Patrolling of surrounding area gtgt High quality expansive CCTV network gtgt Access control and visitors management systemgtgt Personnel trained to handle modern equipment and gadgets1No of these attempts which were successful3No of suicide attempts at Mantralaya in the past 15 daysCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news current affairs from Mumbai local news crime news and breaking headlines hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go