KOCHI: More than a decade after terrorism found its way into God’s Own Country, one of the questions is whether the city has adequate security mechanism to counter any possible terrorist attack on its major hotspots. Intelligence reports say the presence of sensitive establishments like Naval Armament Depot, Southern Naval Command headquarters, Special Economic Zone and LNG terminal has put Kochi on the radar of terrorists. With lots of metro-related development projects in its kitty, there are big possibilities of terrorist threat in Kochi, police said. In the wake of Delhi blast last year, a high alert was sounded in southern cities including Kochi.For the first time terrorists struck Kerala by blasting bombs in two bus stations in Kozhikode. Later a meeting of SIMI, the banned terrorist outfit was held in Aluva on Independence Day. Naval Armament Depot The Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Aluva, one of the six NADs in the country, which is keeping the arms and ammunition for the Southern Navy is the major target in the city. The International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam, the only transshipment port in India, and Cochin Port, one of the largest in India, may also be at risk. Ernakulam Junction Ernakulam Junction is the largest railway station in the city. The station, with six platforms and two terminals, is one of the busiest in the state. Ernakulam Town is one of the three main railway stations in the city. Unlike several major cities in the country, Kochi does not have a metal detector or baggage scanner. These devices are used only when bomb blasts occur in other parts of the country.Cochin International Airport The Cochin International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Kerala. The airport handles approximately around 800 aircraft per week, with thousands of passengers each day. As many as eight domestic airlines and 16 international airlines connect Kochi with nearly 40 destinations nationally and internationally. Marine Drive Marine Drive, a picturesque promenade in the city and a popular hangout for the local populace, also lacks securtiy cover. Hundreds of people throng the walkway during the evenings.Cochin Shipyard Ltd Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility. It is part of a line of maritime-related facilities in the port city. India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier is being built in the shipyard. Refineries Another sensitive area is the Kochi Refineries Ltd (KRL).Fort Kochi Fort Kochi is the historical part of the city and home to many tourist spots, such as the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the Mattanchery Palace and the Santa Cruz Basilica. Mattanchery Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, and Jewish Synagogue are also facing security threat.The LNG terminal The LNG terminal is another sensitive spot of the city. Natural gas is stocked and supplied to other parts of the country from Kochi. With such a high number of developing and existing projects, the current security system will be enhanced, police said. As Kochi has already become the industrial capital of the state, the current security system lacks the edge and police are planning to step up the surveillance system.
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