The security check system at the Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar has been tightened following the blasts in Mumbai on Wednesday. Picture byAshwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 14: The capital has begun to resemble a fortress.

While high alert has been sounded at the Biju Patnaik Airport in the wake of the serial blasts in Mumbai, police strengthened their security arrangements throughout the city due to Rahul Gandhi’s two-day visit. Rahul left the city today. The airport officials were not leaving any stone unturned to ensure foolproof security at the terminal end.

“We have ensured total security at the airport by trained personnel of Central Industrial Security Force, which forms the Airport Security Group (ASG). There is round-the clock manning of 13 watchtowers by two guards each on shift duty,” said airport director V.N. Chandran.

Specific measures prescribed by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), a specialised agency formulating security norms, are already in place and the city airport is using an anti-hijack check on passengers. This apart, there is also a restriction of movement in certain areas inside the terminal.

“The ASG is capable of handling all the exigencies arising out of any situation at an airport. The intensity of surveillance just got a boost in the wake of the blasts and Rahul Gandhi’s visit. Today, he went to Bhadrak on a helicopter though the original plan was to take a road route. However, with the weather remaining fair, the plan was changed,” said a senior Airports Authority of India (AAI) officer.

Apart from the deployment of the ASG inside the airport area, two platoons of Orissa police accompanied by one deputy commissioner of police (DCP), one additional DCP and two assistant commissioners of police were also deployed outside the terminal area.

While the airport remained under tight security, city police put the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on high alert and deployed additional security personnel at various important establishments and public places.

Extra forces were deployed at various squares and security officials were told to keep close vigil on all vehicles and commuters. The police were seen checking many vehicles at busy places and talking to people when they felt their behaviour to be suspicious.

Similarly the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been asked to keep watch on railway stations. The RPF officials said they had intensified patrolling in the railway station.

“We have been instructed by control room to stay alert. Although most of our personnel have not yet returned from rath yatra duty in Puri, we are still keeping close vigil on all types of activities in the platform area,” said K.C. Nayak, working inspector-in-charge of RPF police station, Bhubaneswar.

GRP, superintendent of police, Khurda division, Bhagyadhar Behera said: “After yesterday’s incident we have become more careful and deployed additional forces in and around the railway stations. Besides we have deployed one section of force on the Rajadhani Express, which is usually targeted by terrorists. We have also put up banners in railway stations asking passengers to inform us whenever they come across any suspicious material or person.”