India is expected to become one of the major civil security or homeland security markets in the world with expected cumulative spends of about $10 billion by 2017, according to a Frost & Sullivan study.

Homeland security concept came in the limelight after 9/11 and as the name suggests the term refers to providing security using integrated technologies on the city, state and country level. Speaking on the sidelines of the Frost & Sullivan, Growth, Innovation, and Leadership summit in Bangalore, Ratan Shrivastava, Director-Aerospace & Defense, South Asia and Middle East said, “Airports, mass transportation and maritime security are expected to be biggest verticals under growing homeland security market in India.”

While airports will see investments to the tune of $3.3 billion by 2016, mass transportation will see spend of $3.6 billion. The mass transportation segment comprises railways and metro systems. These two segments are followed by security-related spending for maritime areas, which will be about $1 billion by 2016.

Shrivastava said, “The presence of Indian Coast Guard along the country’s coastline is expected to involve the installation of approximately another 20 coast guard stations, along with all the relevant systems, technologies and equipment. Similarly the modernisation and up gradation of current airports, in addition to the planned construction of over 35 new airports around the country, is expected to dramatically increase the amount being spent on airport security.”

Besides airports, mass transportation and maritime security the other key segments for homeland security market include sea ports, large events such as up coming Common wealth Games, border security and first responders. Further, critical infrastructure protection that involves pipelines, nuclear power stations, hydroelectric stations and roadways will see spend of over $350 million by 2016.