Mumbai airport to strengthen security after intelligence alert
Security around the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India, has been reinforced following an intelligence alert about the possibility of terrorists hiding in adjoining slums.
Security around the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India, has been reinforced following an intelligence alert about the possibility of terrorists hiding in adjoining slums.
Mumbai police is carrying out inspection of the slums to arrest suspicious people who could be possible threats to the airport.
The alert came in the wake of a recent proposal from the civil aviation ministry, which had asked the state government to start the rehabilitation of people living in the slums.
"The civil aviation minister has suggested rehabilitation of the slum dwellers living near the airport and we will act on it."
An anonymous source that has been quoted by the Economic Times says: "The plan is to build 15 floor buildings in about 150 acres of the freed land and shift all these dwellers into these flats. These 15-floor buildings will be built over areas that do not come in the funnel zone area that falls in the landing and takeoff path of an aircraft and would not be a safety hazard."
Authorities said that they feared that there was a possibility of a Karachi-like attack on the Mumbai airport.
India Today quoted Maharashtra chief minister as saying: "Yes, there is a threat, but I would not spell out anything about it as it is not proper on my part to discuss it in public. The civil aviation minister has suggested rehabilitation of the slum dwellers living near the airport and we will act on it."
Image: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has increased security following a terrorist threat. Photo: courtesy of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
