Delhi under tight security, 100 air sirens for city soon
As tensions between India and Pakistan remain at a decades-long high, the Delhi government on Friday started the process of installing 100 air raid sirens across the city to prepare residents for potential aerial threats. These sirens, meant to cover the entire Capital, are intended to serve as an early warning system in the event of an air raid.
Delhi Police, meanwhile, has been placed on high alert and instructed to maintain heightened vigilance in high-footfall zones such as markets, malls, and tourist areas.
On Friday afternoon, the Directorate of Civil Defence (DCD) carried out the first test of an air raid siren atop the Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters at ITO. The siren was activated at 3.05pm, and its sound could be heard in areas around Vikas Marg and central Delhi. Police had issued public advisories in advance, asking people not to panic, while station house officers made announcements to inform nearby residents and shopkeepers.
To be sure, despite the warning, many on the ground said the siren wasn't particularly loud despite remaining on for more than 10 minutes.
'We were alerted beforehand, and people were more curious than scared. But the sound was faint; I could barely hear it,' said Rajeev Kumar, a fruit seller near the ITO junction.
Government officials have yet to explain why the sirens weren't louder, but an official said they have taken note of the issue and the matter is under review. 'The options available to fix it are being explored, including whether a device with a higher decibel should be installed or more devices should be installed in close proximity so that the sirens are able to alert all the people living in the area. A decision regarding it is likely to be taken soon,' the official said, asking not to be named.
A senior official involved in the project said each of Delhi's 11 districts will have roughly 10 air raid sirens placed at strategic locations to ensure citywide coverage. However, a detailed location-wise deployment plan has not yet been shared.
PWD minister Parvesh Sahib Singh confirmed that 50 of these sirens will be mounted on prominent multi-storey buildings. 'These sirens are essential for public safety in emergencies. They will be centrally controlled from a command centre and managed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Once triggered, the sirens will ring for five minutes, giving people time to seek shelter under tables, in basements, or other protected spaces,' he said.
The sirens are designed to be heard up to 8 kilometres away.
According to a second senior official in the Civil Defence Directorate, the sirens are equipped with advanced technology and can be remotely activated through GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) commands.
'They are integrated with a software platform that enables remote activation—one, several, or all sirens can be triggered simultaneously. There is also HF radio backup to ensure functionality even in case of GSM network failure. Additionally, each siren has inbuilt power backup for blackout scenarios,' the official said.
The Delhi government plans to complete installation and testing of these sirens in phases, although no fixed timeline has been announced. The Civil Defence and PWD teams will continue site assessments and sound range tests in the coming days. 'We're aiming to ensure there are no 'dark zones' in the coverage. Every neighbourhood should be able to hear a siren in case of an emergency,' the official added.
Friday's siren test followed a broader mobilisation effort by the Delhi government.
On Thursday, it cancelled all leaves for its officers until further notice, citing the need for full preparedness. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) followed suit, suspending staff leaves as well.
'No decision has been made yet on whether more siren tests will be held, but people should be ready and not panic when they do,' a Civil Defence officer said. Public awareness campaigns are expected to roll out alongside siren deployment, instructing citizens on how to respond during alerts—such as taking shelter, stopping outdoor activities, and moving to safe areas calmly.
Alongside these civil defence preparations, Delhi Police has ramped up surveillance and coordination efforts. A senior officer at Police Headquarters said: 'There are red alerts in Punjab and Jammu. Delhi is close, and even though there has been no direct incident here yet, we must be prepared. Our officers have been told to increase deployment and coordinate with civil defence.'
Police increase patrolling
Meanwhile, police units have been asked to patrol sensitive areas and increase visibility, particularly in crowded public spaces like Janpath, Connaught Place, and Sarojini Nagar. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been deployed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, major railway stations, and bus terminals.
Another officer said DCPs have been directed to identify staff who can assist in rescue operations, operate sirens, administer first aid, and help in evacuation. 'We've been told to conduct general patrolling, liaise with civil defence volunteers, and monitor for any unusual activity. Our teams are trained to respond swiftly,' the officer added.
Earlier this week, the Delhi government conducted mock defence drills across the city. One exercise included a 15-minute blackout in Lutyens' Delhi to simulate a possible emergency and assess the effectiveness of the city's disaster response protocols.
Together, these measures point to a rapidly escalating security posture in the national capital. While officials insist there is no need for panic, the visible deployment of air raid sirens, cancellation of leaves, blackout drills, and increased police presence mark one of the most extensive civil defence initiatives Delhi has seen in recent years.
With inputs from Snehil Sinha
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: PWD pulls up engineers over court case lapses
The Public Works Department (PWD) on Sunday warned officials of strict action for delays and negligence in handling court cases. The direction came after a recent incident prompted serious remarks from the court accusing the department of disobedience and 'mocking the judicial process'. An office memorandum issued by PWD's personnel director highlights how repeated failure by officials to act promptly in legal matters has drawn the ire of the judiciary. The latest trigger was a case where a personal appearance order was issued against the 'PWD head', wherein the court observed that 'PWD by continuously showing disobedience is trying to make mockery of the court.' 'This is a matter of grave concern. Despite clear instructions issued earlier, we're still seeing lapses in coordination, delayed action, and missing representation in courts, which puts government interests at risk,' an official said. The order recalls instructions issued to all executive engineers in January this year, which had flagged similar issues. The earlier note had highlighted instances of adverse court orders due to lack of proper defense, delayed filings, and failure to submit affidavits or appear during hearings. In some cases, PWD was not even represented, despite ongoing litigation. As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by PWD, executive engineers have to report the details of any legal challenge immediately and send monthly updates to their senior officers. Superintending and chief engineers have been asked to regularly monitor all court matters and ensure timely communication and preparation. The PWD has asserted that any further violation will be viewed seriously and that accountability will lie with the officers concerned. The memorandum, approved by the engineer-in-chief, has been circulated to all officials.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
‘Ghat being built on Ulhas river using MLA funds illegal, raze it'
Thane: State irrigation department declared illegal and ordered the demolition of Antilia ghat being built at a cost of Rs 7 crore by the public works department (PWD) through the funds of BJP MLA Kumar Ailani on Ulhas River in Ulhasnagar's Shahad area. The direction to Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) came on a complaint by activist Sarita Khanchandani. In 2022, PWD started work after Ailani disbursed MLA funds to construct the ghat for Ganpati immersions and a walking path for citizens behind Regency Antilia housing society. Khanchandani first complained to UMC that trees were illegally cut on the banks of Ulhas River. When UMC did not respond, she complained to the irrigation department, under which the river area falls, as well as the Thane collector's office. "Google images of the riverbank clearly show that before the construction of the ghat, there was greenery. However, current images reveal that the greenery has vanished. The comparison between the before and after images is striking. Shockingly, the UMC commissioner, who also serves as the tree authority head, personally attended the bhoomipujan," she said in her complaint. "...age-old heritage trees were chopped down, leaving the riverbank's soil loose and vulnerable to flooding. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Los cuidamos también a ellos mientras vos no estás. ¡Cotizá tu kit Verisure hoy! Alarmas Verisure Más información Undo To date, no data or information has been provided regarding the felling of these trees," Khanchandani alleged in the complaint. Following the complaint by the activist, the irrigation department, in its written order to UMC, said, "Timely action is expected from urban civic bodies for the removal of encroachments and unauthorised dumping along the river. Accordingly, it is requested that your department take immediate and necessary action to remove these unauthorised constructions and fillings in the Ulhas riverbed in connection with the complaint. " Ailani, however, denied that the construction was illegal. "Whatever work is being done, PWD is doing it with permission of the Thane collector's office. During Ganpati, people have to go to Kalyan for visarjan, so a ghat is being built there. We have planted about 200 trees in the area so target is to plant 1,000 trees."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Delhi considers building elevated road over ring road to ease chronic congestion
N ew Delhi: With the city's Ring Road catering to heavier traffic than its capacity, Delhi govt is toying with the idea of building an elevated road over the existing 55-km stretch. PWD minister Parvesh Verma said he had already asked for a feasibility of such a project, with the proposed road to be built on pillars and connected with other arterial roads through ramps. Verma said he had discussed the plan with Union minister for road, transport and highways Nitin Gadkari and received a go-ahead from him. "This will be one of the biggest projects of this govt and will be completed within its term," Verma told TOI. The minister said that Delhi's two ring roads bear the maximum load of traffic and remain clogged during peak hours. Adding to the capacity of the existing road would help ease traffic on the existing one while also decongesting other roads that connect with Ring Road. "Since the new road will be entirely elevated, it can be built on pillars along the central verge of the existing road. The project will not require any acquisition of land and so can be completed within a given timeframe," Verma said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo Since a large volume of traffic using the Ring Road disperses on other important arterial roads such as Mathura Road, Aurobindo Marg, DND Flyway or head to the airport, Gurgaon, Rohtak Road and other highways, Verma said traffic movement would become obstruction-free with the construction of the new elevated road. "The cost of the construction of an elevated road comes to about Rs 100 crore per kilometre. This project can easily be completed at a cost of Rs 5,500-6,000 crore," the PWD minister said. Once a relatively efficient arterial corridor designed to decongest central areas and facilitate cross-city travel, Ring Road is now facing chronic congestion. Unlike the newer Outer Ring Road, developed later to redirect peripheral traffic, the inner Ring Road is buckling under mounting pressures. From urban sprawl and flawed planning to infrastructure saturation and enforcement gaps, a confluence of factors has brought the once-speedy corridor to a glacial pace. When Ring Road was originally planned in the 1950s and completed in the following decades, it was meant to serve a very different city — both in population and traffic volume. At the time, Delhi had fewer than three million residents. Today, the metro region is home to over 30 million. The road, however, has not expanded proportionately to accommodate this growth. What was once designed as a bypass route now functions as a semi-central road. As the city grew outward, neighbourhoods like South Extension, Punjabi Bagh, Lajpat Nagar and Ashram became dense mid-city urban hubs. Ring Road now cuts through commercial, institutional and residential areas. The corridor is used not just by through traffic but also by local traffic to access shops, markets, schools and hospitals — all of which generate frequent stops and lane intrusions. Intersections like AIIMS, Moolchand, Dhaula Kuan, Ashram and ITO are choke points where arterial routes intersect with heavy local traffic. While flyovers and underpasses have been built at some locations, they often only shift the congestion rather than resolve it. Delhi Traffic Police conducted a survey in 2024 and found that of 134 congestion hotspots, at least 12 were located on Ring Road and Outer Ring Road.
