"We have established more than one (nuclear control) nerve centre," he said in an interview in which he disclosed that other nuclear command and control structures like nuclear command shelters and VVIP shelters have also been established.

To a question whether action has been taken to safeguard the country's nerve centres like North Block, South Block and Parliament, Fernandes said "all necessary steps to provide these vital places protection" have been taken.

On the possibility of the use of Delhi Metro underground tunneling as nuclear shelter, he merely said "some countries have modified underground railway network to turn into shelters".

Elaborating on the process of deployment of 700 km-range Agni-I and 1500 to 2000 km-range Agni-II missiles, Fernandes said "these have been handed over to the Army for deployment". He said the production of longer-range variant of the missile -- Agni-III --was under production and its exact timing for its test firing were being finalised.

In the interview, the Defence Minister said that Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) set up would be in place within a "few months" and that pace of modernisation of armed forces had been accelerated.

Expanding on the Nuclear Command authority, Fernandes said that any nuclear power has to take care of issues like having a credible second strike capability and setting up of nuclear command and nerve centres.

Meanwhile, India has taken serious note of the recent statements of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on his country's nuclear capability, which it feels he may be using to build up a case for a pre-emptive strike against India.

Government sources, who have read "more than the usual" anti-India rhetoric in Musharraf's recent statements including the one accusing New Delhi of playing "dangerous" games in Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan, feel that it is the General's latest "propaganda innovation" against India.