India seeks US cooperation in countering CBRN weapons threat

With mass transit system being a potential target for terrorists, India has sought cooperation from the US in providing technical assistance in countering threats from Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons.
During a recent meeting between security officials of the two countries, the Indian side raised the issue of sharing technical know-how of countering the threats emerging from CBRN weapons, official sources said.
A detailed presentation was made by the CISF during the meeting in which cooperation was sought from the US in providing technical solutions for CBRN threats, underground tunnels and metro stations and track security.
Indian delegations have been visiting the US for purchase of infra-red technical system which stands guard at various subway stations against CBRN threats but no company stepped in to provide remedy till some understanding was arrived with the US.

India has also sought cooperation from the US agencies in providing technical solutions in understanding "behavioural pattern" of commuters using the mass transit system with video analysis, the sources said.
The "behavioural pattern" as highlighted by the US for its Chicago transit system gives out minute frame of any individual who is moving in a suspicious manner at any metro station.

The same architectural framework could be used in the metro stations in the national capital.
The transport system of the country especially in Mumbai has seen many terror attacks since 2000 in which 250 people have been killed.
A special mention was made about the Mumbai railway system which has 136 stations and 469 platforms. On an average working day, 70 lakh passengers commute in 24 hours with the load factor at peak time being 6,000 passengers per minute.

Popular as 'local', the railway system in Mumbai is the backbone of the megapolis. But porous railway stations and rail road, overcrowding during peak hours, over dependence on manual security checks were listed as problem for the transport system.
India also sought cooperation from the US for use of Information Technology solutions to manage security contingencies in mass rapid transport systems.