A canine handler examines the foyer of Delovoy Tsentr (Business Centre) metro station before the opening ceremony.
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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Moscow Metro Trying Not Let Terrorists In
Yesterday, the head of the Moscow Metro Dmitry Gaev announced about the intention to introduce in capital subway additional security devices, which should protect against possible terrorist acts. For instance, it is planed to set up at the entrances to the metro stations metal detectors and gas analyzers for explosive devices. The cost of this project was not mentioned as of yet. However, according to Kommersant calculations it might be about $3 million.
Yesterday, the Federation Council held a session of the round table dedicated to the subject “Modern Technologies Provide Security in the Metro.” The participants of the session were representing different organizations: Alexander Gaev, Head of the Main Office of “Moscow Metropolitan,” Alexander Torshin, Deputy Chairman of Federation Council, as well as Duma deputies and specialists of transport security measures. After the meeting, Gaev told journalists what is being planned to prevent the threat of the terrorist acts in Moscow metro. In 2005, the Ministry of Internal Affairs created a federal program of the security measures for Russian subway systems. During the program realization it is planned to spend about 4.5 billion rubles, from which 2.5 billion – just for the Moscow Metro.
“Right now we are conducting scientific research and then we’ll announce the concourse. The results of the best project would be used to increase the security of the metro,” head of the capital’s subway told journalists. He also said that next year there are plans to set up at the metro stations entrances (first will be “Belorusskaya” – Koltsevaya station) metal detectors and gas analyzers for explosive devices. These gas analyzers were created by Israel Military Industries. The negotiation with this company is being conducted since February of 2005.
The metal detectors and gas analyzers would check every person for the presence of the explosive devices. However, that might cause a delay and result large crowds in the metro station entrances. Valery Gribakin, Acting Director of Public Relations Department of Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs said: “It is absolutely necessary to consider either construction of additional entrances or something else in order to prevent large crowds at the entrances. The terrorists could use these crowds for their advantage.”
According to Kommersant’s preliminary calculations, the cost of setting up the equipment in all Moscow stations (there are 171 stations in the capital subway) would be at least $2.9 million.
Ivan Buranov
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 23, 2005
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