Mumbai: In the wake of the deadly car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort metro station that killed nine people and injured 20 others, Maharashtra has been placed on high alert. Authorities have intensified security measures across Mumbai and key railway stations to prevent any possible retaliatory or coordinated threats, police officials confirmed on Monday evening.
According to senior officials, the Maharashtra Police issued a “precautionary alert” statewide, directing all district unit commanders and city police commissioners to maintain maximum vigilance. “We have heightened surveillance and deployed additional forces at major installations, public areas, and transit hubs,” said a senior officer from the Maharashtra Police Headquarters.
In Mumbai, stringent security checks have been enforced at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Dadar, Thane, and Kalyan stations. Teams from the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) have ramped up patrolling duties, deploying dog squads and bomb detection and disposal units to scan platforms, parcels, and luggage. Commuters have been urged to remain alert and avoid handling any unidentified objects.
Security has also been reinforced at stations on both the Central and Western Railway lines including Churchgate, Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, Borivali, Vasai, and Panvel. “All officials are on high alert, and coordination with local police is continuous,” said a Western Railway spokesperson.
Across Mumbai, police have launched large-scale combing operations, with barricades erected at major roads and city entry points such as Dahisar, Thane, Vashi, and Airoli. Every vehicle and individual entering the city is being subject to inspection.
In addition, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Anti-Terrorism Cells (ATCs) at local police stations have been activated to collect intelligence on potential threats. “We are cross-verifying online chatter and monitoring any suspicious movements that could indicate a larger plot,” a state intelligence officer revealed.
Security has been tightened not only in Mumbai but across other urban centers, including Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur. In Nagpur, Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal instructed all Deputy Commissioners and station heads to maintain round-the-clock vigilance. Quick Response Teams (QRT) and ATS personnel are patrolling sensitive zones such as markets, religious sites, schools, and transport terminals.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Dr. Harssh Poddar said particular attention is being paid to areas around Ramtek Gad Mandir and explosives manufacturing units, deemed vulnerable due to their proximity to industrial zones.
The heightened alert comes as investigators in Delhi suspect a possible terror link behind Monday’s explosion, which occurred in a slow-moving Hyundai i20 near the historic Red Fort. The incident has prompted nationwide security tightening, with central agencies monitoring for any signs of coordinated extremist activity.
Officials in Maharashtra have assured citizens that there is no immediate threat but emphasized that preventive measures are essential in light of the national security situation. “It’s better to be over-prepared than under-protected,” a senior police source stated.