With security topmost on its mind, the Commonwealth Games Federation has suggested that a wall, nine-feet high, be built around all Games venues.

The idea has been mooted by the Federation’s security advisors, Australian firm Intelligent Risk (IR).

The recommendation was put forward at a meeting this Wednesday between representatives of the Federation — or the London-based umbrella body that oversees the Games — its Indian arm, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, and all other agencies involved in this mega event. On the agenda was the safety of athletes.

While the Federation insists that the nine-feet or 2.8-metre high wall is the “minimum security requirement”, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), in this case the executing agency, thinks these walls will ruin the structural aesthetics of the Games venues.

A CPWD official said: “Safety is the top priority of all agencies involved in the Games. That will not be compromised. There are certain factors that, however, need to be kept in mind before a proposal can be floated.” He was quick to add: “We are just the executing agency. We will build an eight-feet high wall if told to do so. If the mandate is ten feet, we shall build that too. Though nothing has been finalised yet, the question remains: Is this recommendation of aesthetic value?”

One of the key agencies responsible for security is IR. It is understood that this Australian firm floated the idea of the boundary walls around all CWG stadiums — the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Talkatora stadium, Indira Gandhi stadium, Major Dhyan Chand stadium, Shivaji stadium and the Karni Singh Shooting Range.

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