Ground transportationRussia spending $1.6 billion to bolster transportation security
The Russian government announced that it would spend about $1.6 billion over the next three years to beef up transportation security; roughly $410 million will be spent on increasing metro security; Transportation Minister Igor Levitin says the metro is the weakest link in security efforts; there are 300 entrances in the Moscow metro alone; last year two female suicide bombers detonated bombs in Moscow’s busy metro system killing forty people and injuring more than 100; Moscow has the second busiest subway system in the world, second only to Tokyo
On Tuesday, 15 February 2011 the Russian government announced that it would spend 46.7 million rubles, about $1.6 billion, over the next three years to beef up transportation security.
The announcement comes weeks after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport and killed thirty-five people and injured at least 180.
Transport Minister Igor Levitin said, “A substantial sum, about 12 billion rubles [roughly $410 million], will be invested in the metro security. We think that the metro is the weakest link in security efforts, as the Moscow metro alone has about 300 entrances.”
So far 106 metal detectors have been installed in rail way stations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vyborg, and Tver.
Additional security measures being implemented include a passenger screening system that is currently undergoing testing and the development of a comprehensive metro security model.
Last year two female suicide bombers detonated bombs in two different stations about forty minutes apart in Moscow’s crowded metro. At least forty people were killed and more than 100 were injured.
Moscow has the second busiest subway system in the world, second only to Tokyo. Each day roughly 6.6 million people use the system.
One day after the Domodedovo airport bombing, President Medvedev ordered that a security screening system like the one in the United States be implemented at all major transportation facilities.
Speaking at Federal Security Service (FSB) meeting, Medvedev said, “We will have to set up a more thorough security system, a complete check. It will take more time for passengers, but this is the only way.”
The additional transportation security funds will be spent in coordination with all of the government ministries.
