Keeping in view the country’s need to deal with increased internal and external security challenges, the government has given the green light to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to widen its counter-terror grid by expanding its network to cover 825 locations from the current 374 that work under the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), tribuneindia.com reports on March 21. Sources in the security establishment said the MAC received around 150 inputs a day, ranging from terror alerts from troubled Jammu and Kashmir, North-East, Maoist zones and suspicious terror activities in other areas. “A total of 374 locations are presently on the network. In phase III, the network is being extended to 475 districts, selected in consultation with director generals (DGs) of state police. Out of 475 identified locations, 451 have been found feasible for providing connectivity, out of which 174 have already been connected. When completed, the network will cover 825 locations around the country,” sources said.