The system, worth Rs 350 crore, will not only hold surveillance on the inflow and outflow of people to and from major stations through more than 200 control rooms, but also be an all-India helpline for passengers in distress.
“A high-level committee, which has the home secretary of Karnataka as one of the members, has been set up to suggest mechanism for filing FIRs in moving trains,” Railways Minister of State K H Muniyappa told Deccan Herald here.
Significant step
The measure is significant in the context of the rising graph of crimes, including theft on running trains. As per reports presented in Parliament, the number of crimes, including theft of passengers’ belongings, reported on running trains was 7,860 (in 2007), 7,946 (2008), 8,739 (2009) and 146 in January 2010.
Passengers are often harassed during filing of FIRs for crimes committed on moving trains as there is a clash of jurisdiction between different authorities with the law and order coming under the state government and railway security under the Railway Protection Force (RPF). And then as the train passes through several states, there may be disputes on which authority should handle the case.
“Once the committee gives its report, it will be sent to the Home Ministry, which in turn, will issue directives to the states,” said the minister, who is in charge of railway safety and security.
Elaborating on the proposed security system, which includes four features, the minister said there will be CCTV Surveillance and Intelligent Video Analysis system with alarms. It will also involve access control by building perimeter walls and setting up blocks to protect porous railway stations. X-Ray machines for personal and baggage screening will be in place like airports along with a high-tech bomb detection and disposal system.
On an average, 1,275 trains are escorted by the RPF daily, in addition to escorting of about 2,200 trains by the Government Railway Police (GRP).
As part of the process, dog squads in different zones will be augmented. Commando training will be imparted to selected RPF staff. Steps will be taken to enhance the quality and content of the training of the RPF.
Under the modernisation scheme, security gadgets will be procured and the weaponry upgraded for enhancing the striking capability of the RPF. Regular coordination meetings will be held with the GRP and the state police at all levels to ensure proper registration and investigation of crime.
DH News Service
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