An elaborate three-tier security cover will be put in place for the Games to be held in the Indian capital, with thousands of close circuit televisions, aerial surveillance and police personnel keeping a close vigil in the city during the event, it was revealed.

It will be the biggest ever mobilisation of police and security forces in India's history, the Home Ministry's International Security Liaison Group (ISLG) said today after representatives from more than 30 countries due to compete in the Games attended a special briefing.

Safety concerns have escalated in South Asia since militant attacks in Mumbai last November killed 166 people and gunmen ambushed the Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Pakistan in March.
 

Further concerns flared up last month when England pulled out of the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad.

India's Home Secretary G. K. Pillai, who chaired the meeting, promised that special attention was being given to prevent "Lahore-type" attacks on the athletes who will be taken from the Athletes Village to the venues in dedicated lanes with helicopters providing air surveillance.

Onkar Kedia, a spokesman for the Home Ministry, said: “In the Heads of Missions conference the distinguished esteemed excellencies were informed about the provisions for the security during the Commonwealth Games.

"We told them about the security and other measures being planned for players during the Games.

"We told them that a three-tier security will be arranged and they looked quite convinced with our plan of action."

Nearly 9,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories are expected to take part in the Commonwealth Games, the largest sports event to be held in the country since the 1982 Asian Games and a possible launchpad for a bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Wales, have raised the possibility of pulling out of the Games if there is a security threat and this latest meeting was designed to try to reassure countries.

Datuk Tan Seng Sung, Malaysia's High Commissioner to India who attended the briefing, said afterwards: "They [India] are very confident that all will be okay for the Games, security arrangements and the infrastructures.
 

"They don't see any security threats at the moment but they said they are vigilant."