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The new convention centre at Pragati Maidan, which is scheduled to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September, was designed keeping in mind a range of threats, including terrorism; high levels of crime against women; social and communal unrest in Old Delhi; protests outside the BJP and Congress headquarters; and poor road infrastructure, according to a risk assessment report of the project accessed by The Indian Express through Right to Information.
When redevelopment of Pragati Maidan began in 2017, a risk assessment flagged the threats as “likely”. According to the assessment carried out by a Gurgaon-headquartered firm, IIRIS Consulting, threats from terrorism and Naxalism, environmental risk, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear), crime, road infrastructure, and social unrest were assessed and design interventions suggested. Psychological barriers that increase perception of being detected, demarcation of zones for functions, automated access control and video analytics for automatic detection of unauthorised activities were being included, it said.
Asked for comment, IIRIS Consulting president Garry Singh said the organisation had carried out the risk assessment at the design stage as well as provided inputs during construction. The security design, including crime prevention through environmental design, was carried out, he said. Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools have been incorporated. “There is a multi-tier security design that will make dignitaries feel safe,” he said, declining to get into details. The risk assessment report was based on meetings held on April 28, 2017 and July 21, 2017, as per documents provided by NBCC (India) Ltd, the implementing agency, to India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the owner of the site.
According to sources, similar risk assessments have been done for G20 Summit venues in the past. On the other hand, other high-profile recent projects, like the New Parliament Building that was inaugurated last month, have not had a similar assessment by an independent agency. Sources associated with the Parliament project said the security requirements were conveyed at different stages from various government agencies, including Delhi Police and the Parliament Security staff.
“Given Delhi’s status as national capital as well as the political and economic hub of northern India, there is a persistent risk of terrorist attacks…Due to popularity of Pragati Maidan as a convention centre, the facility also faces an enhanced security risk during periods of VVIP/VIP visits,” the assessment read. It said threats from terrorism and Naxalism were “credible”, while overall assessment was “moderate”.
The risk assessment said Delhi had a high rate of crime. It said pick-pocketing and chain and bag snatching were common and foreigners were “most vulnerable” to touts. “Delhi in particular has seen increasing levels of crime against women… The most common form of sexual harassment… is unwelcome low-level verbal advances… known locally as ‘eve-teasing’… it is unlikely to lead to anything more serious. However, more serious incidents of sexual assault, including against foreign women, do occur,” it said.
The report said socio-communal risks were likely, with a “moderate” impact. “Social and communal unrest is more likely to occur in Old Delhi area. Political demonstrations tend to focus primarily on the Jantar Mantar monument and the Parliament building,” it said, adding that other protest venues could be BJP and Congress offices, Connaught Place, India Gate and Ramlila Ground.
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