In view of the upcoming Commonwealth Games next year and the increased need for airtight security measures, the Indira Gandhi International Airport is now in the process of securing its outer periphery to detect and neutralise any possible cases of intrusion.

Installation of the much-touted Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) has finally started, and officials say it would take at least four months to finish.

With large-scale development work and new terminal buildings coming up, the outer periphery of the airport -presently manned patrolling teams of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and watchtowers — is being extended to cover new areas now.

“Cabling work has already started on the 35-km perimeter around the airport,” a senior CISF official said.

According to airport officials, the four-layered system will be installed around the airport’s existing perimeter wall. Excluding the Air Force area and the existing terminal buildings, the entire stretch of the perimeter wall covered by the PIDS will measure around 24 km.

“The four-layered PIDS, with physical and covert detection systems — including taut wire, buried cable, CCTV cameras and radars — will be installed around the existing airport perimeter wall before the new integrated Terminal 3 building is commissioned. There is a patrolling track all along the perimeter wall,” a senior airport official said.

“The system will be effective in any kind of weather and help enhance the efficiency with which security personnel respond to security breaches. The area covered under the PIDS will be divided into zones; planning is on to decide the number of men and Quick Reaction Teams to be deployed,” the CISF official said.

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