Mumbai, November 24
Three years after terrorists from Pakistan landed in Mumbai and targeted prominent landmarks in the city, corporate houses, information technology parks, shopping malls, government establishments and even ordinary housing societies have now started exploring the option of hiring private agencies for security.

Considering the growth potential, corporate biggies are also entering the security business. Reliance Industries Limited recently signed an MoU with Siemens “to jointly develop homeland security solutions for safe, secure and smart cities and highways in India,” according to a company statement.

Reliance, which will roll out its 4G telecommunications network next year, plans to integrate Siemens’ surveillance technology to secure public areas in the country, a statement released by the company at the time of signing the MoU said.

According to the RIL, it has already acquired considerable expertise in the business by virtue of the in-house security solutions it provides to its critical installations like refineries, oil rigs, and drilling platforms.

The company claims it has “designed and operates the world’s largest integrated security automation system consisting of over 12,000 cameras apart from tens of thousands of other advanced security sensors, radars and video analytics”.

Corporate houses like L&T, the Tatas and the Mahindras have also made forays into the security business.

Private agencies, which earlier used to provide untrained village boys armed with sticks to stand guard at various places, are now moving to recruit ex-servicemen and retired commandos from the armed forces. The biggest demand for trained security personnel comes from shopping malls and multiplexes that see huge crowds, particularly on weekends.

“With the police issuing frequent warnings about terrorist attacks, malls are looking at comprehensive security solutions,” says Jasbir Singh, a retired Army officer who provides trained personnel to commercial establishments.