Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal announced that the government is going to import sophisticated technology from a private firm in the United States to protect the people of India from terrorist attacks at public places.
Adressing a press conference in Shastri Bhavan, Sibal said that his ministry had been working on the project for last two years.
"The project would cost us about Rs 20 crore and we are confident that this would come down to Rs 10 crore once it is fully operational," he said.
He announced that the pilot project would be tried and tested in the next six months at New Delhi's railway station platform number 12.
"The government of India is keen to introduce the project in view of terrorist violence in Jaipur in which more than 60 persons lost their lives. I am surprised to hear whether we are not paying a high cost for the project. I cannot understand the import of your question. Is Rs 20 crore too high a cost to protect the lives of the people," Sibal asked.
"It is necessary to have these devices in their place as the number of visitors is too heavy, access control is not feasible, individual identification is not possible and modern technology is used to prevent these incidents. Then Central Electronics Limited, a public sector undertaking would indigise this technology to suit Indian conditions," Sibal said.
One of experts felt that the department of science and technology is chasing outdated technology as it has failed miserably in United States itself.
